MIAMI, FL (Sporting Alert, Box Score) — Nate Robinson scored the last seven points for Chicago and the visiting Bulls stunned defending champion Miami Heat 93-86 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-final at the American Airlines Arena on Monday night.
Robinson, like he had been doing in these playoffs, took over down the stretch to score some big buckets – finishing with 27 points and nine assists in the victory. The Bulls had Trailed 86-83 with 2 minutes left.
Jimmy Butler added a fine double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds and Joakim Noah posted 13 points and 11 boards in the victory for the Bulls, which played without stars Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich.
LeBron James, who started very cold, came back to pace the rusty-looking Miami Heat with 24 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Dwyane Wade added 14 points in the defeat.
Miami, who were held to a season low 37 points in the first half and 15 points in the first quarter, struggled from three-point range as the home side could only manage to go 7-of-23 from behind the arc.
Taj Gibson scored 12 and Marco Belinelli contributed 10 for Chicago, which knocked off the Brooklyn Nets in the opening round off the playoffs.