Bayless Beats Bulls at Buzzer
25 Apr, 2015
Jerryd Bayless made a layup at the buzzer off an inbounds pass, lifting Milwaukee to a 92-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday, drawing the Bucks within 3-1 in their Eastern Conference playoff series.
With 1.3 seconds left, Jared Dudley threw a high-arcing pass toward the basket from side court. Bayless caught the ball and quickly threw up the layup for the game-winning basket.
Bulls guard Derrick Rose walked away in frustration after trying to guard Bayless as green and white streamers descended from the Bradley Center rafters. The Bucks had won their first playoff game in five years.
Chicago had a chance to win with the game tied at 90. But Milwaukee’s Khris Middleton tipped a dribble away from Rose to force a steal. Bucks coach Jason Kidd called a timeout to set up the final play.
Game 5 is Monday in Chicago.
Jimmy Butler had a playoff career-high 33 points for the Bulls. Rose finished with 14 points, while Pau Gasol had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bulls just couldn’t contain Bayless and Dudley at the end.
The veterans were a calming influence off the bench on a team known more for rising stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Michael Carter-Williams, both starters.
But it was the bench that ignited Milwaukee’s second-half push after the Bucks lost a 12-point lead in the first half. The Bucks’ reserves outscored Chicago’s 47-13 for the game.
O.J. Mayo finished with 18 points, including a 3-pointer with 1:42 left while Dudley had 13 points and five assists – including the one on the game-winner – while Bayless had 10 points.
The Bucks forced 28 turnovers, eight by Rose.
AP
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