Bulls: Series will go to a Game 7

As crazy as it's been, there were a few things that hadn't happened yet in this Bulls-Celtics playoff series.

Triple overtime was something different. So was Joakim Noah picking off a pass, racing Boston star Paul Pierce down the court and throwing down the go-ahead slam dunk while getting fouled hard.

Forget the argument over whether this is the most thrilling first-round series in NBA history. This might qualify as the most dramatic event in sports history. The scope of what's happened between these teams during the past 12 days is becoming difficult to comprehend.

"It's been incredible," Buls guard Kirk Hinrich said. "Coming into this series, I don't think anybody could have imagined it would turn out like this."

The Bulls forced a Game 7 on Saturday in Boston by pulling off a 128-127 victory in triple overtime before breathless, red-clad fans at the United Center.

League officials might want to consider calling this one a draw and getting on with the rest of the playoffs.

"What I told them in a timeout is, 'How great a job is this?' Just to be able to play basketball and be in these situations, that's what it's all about," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "As a kid you dream about it, putting yourself in these situations. I told the guys, 'Take advantage of this opportunity.' "

After Noah's dunk and 3-point play with 35 seconds left in the third overtime, an exchange of baskets and an agonizing missed layup by Kirk Hinrich with 21.9 seconds on the clock, Boston had the ball down by 1.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers went to a matchup that had worked all series - point guard Rajon Rondo against Derrick Rose. The Bulls' rookie stopped Rondo's drive, then put a turnaround jumper back in Rondo's face and grabbed the loose ball after blocking the shot.

Rose missed both of his free throws with 3.2 seconds on the clock, but Boston was out of timeouts and Rondo's half-court shot for the win wasn't close.

"This definitely doesn't feel like my first year coaching after this series," Del Negro added.

Boston shooting guard Ray Allen has had a brilliant career, but he turned in the game of his life on Thursday, pouring in 51 points while hitting 18 of 32 shots from the field.

"We were joking with him on the plane, 'You're the only one with fresh legs after you fouled out the other night (in Game 5),' " Rivers said. "He was just great."

During an absolutely ridiculous fourth quarter, the Bulls went from a 12-point lead to an 8-point deficit in a span of six minutes, then scrambled from behind before tying the score on - what else? - a Brad Miller slow-motion drive to the basket. No one hit Miller in the face this time, but Pierce did yell at teammate Kendrick Perkins for not taking a foul.

"We stopped playing," Rivers said of losing lead in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls should have wrapped up the win in the second overtime. They were ahead 116-113, missed two chances to increase the lead, then Allen drilled a tough corner jumper over Noah with his toes on the 3-point line. After Miller knocked down 2 free throws with 16.9 seconds on the clock to stretch the lead to 3, Allen came through again, knocking down a tying 3-pointer over Hinrich with 7.6 seconds remaining.

The Bulls went ahead by 4 points with 2:12 left in the first overtime after Miller scored off an inbound pass. But Pierce drew a pair of fouls, including Ben Gordon's sixth, and tied the game with 4 free throws.

Following a Rose turnover, Glen Davis knocked down an improbable 17-foot jumper as the shot clock expired to give Boston a 109-107 lead with 40.1 seconds left. John Salmons (35 points) answered with a lane runner with 23.5 seconds on the clock and Pierce air-balled a jumper against a triple-team.

"I feel like I could play (Game 7) right now," Noah said after the contest. "It's bigger than being tired. That's what wanting to win real bad is all about."

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