Morning Box Score: Bulls Steal Game 1
By Chuck Sudo in News on May 7, 2013 1:30PM
Tom Thibodeau and his walking infirmary stole home court advantage from the vaunted Heat in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series and they did so thanks to the heroics of the Big Three of ... Nate Robinson, Jimmy Butler and Marco Belinelli?
Yup, and it's come down to this thanks to the Bulls' mounting list of injuries. Robinson led all scorers with 27 points — 24 in the second half — and nine assists and added a lacerated lip to his wounds during a collision with LeBron James for a loose ball. (Robinson required 10 stitches to close the wound.) Butler added 21 points and 14 rebounds while being charged with defending James most of the game. Belinelli only scored 10 points and was off target for much of the game, but was dead on when it mattered as the Bulls erased a seven point deficit with six minutes in regulation. Chicago outscored Miami 35-24. James scored 24 points, grabbed eight rebounds and seven assists for the Heat, who lost for the first time in the playoffs. After the game, Robinson said the team is simply going with the flow.
"We're just out there having fun," Robinson said. "We're playing for each other and the city of Chicago. Nobody has us winning any games. I heard somebody say we're going to get swept. We're going to give them our all."
Before the game, Belinelli was fined $15,000 for making an obscene gesture during Saturday's Game 7 clincher against the Nets. What was the gesture, you ask?
The Wrigley Faithful erupted in a round of cheering after news of the Bulls' win began to spread but they also had reasons to root for the home team. Scott Feldman pitched seven strong innings in his first start since his complete game, and Feldman benefited from a five-run fourth inning as he beat his former team. Anthony Rizzo homered in the eighth inning for the Cubs.
White Sox 2, Kansas City 1 (11 Innings)
The White Sox avoided a sweep against the Royals Monday. An RBI infield single by Alexei Ramirez tied the game in the ninth inning and Jordan Danks cranked the game-winning homer in the 11th. Chris Sale pitched well through 7.1 innings and struck out five while holding Kansas City to one run. White Sox pitchers didn't allow a walk the entire game. Jesse Crain earned the win and Addison Reed picked up his 11th save. Byt the Sox' injury woes got worse with the news that Gavin Floyd will have surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament and a torn flexor muscle in his pitching elbow. The recovery time for the surgery is 14-19 months, meaning not only is Floyd's 2013 season over, but he could miss next season.