The Chicago Bulls did something they’ve done before and something never done before by any team in upsetting the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night.
This is the third straight time the Bulls have beaten LeBron James’ team in a Game 1. The Bulls lost each of the other two instances in five games.
In doing so, they never trailed. As the game telecast noted, this was the first time an opponent of a James team never trailed in a postseason game on the road (85 games).
How did the Bulls do it?
Rest is best for Rose
Derrick Rose had 25 points, five rebounds and five assists. He's averaging 24.3 points per game on 48 percent shooting in four games these playoffs with at least two days of rest, compared to 14 points per game on 30 percent shooting when he’s had only one day of rest.
Difference-makers: Pau Gasol and Mike Dunleavy
Pau Gasol finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, good for his sixth double-double in seven playoff games this postseason. Over the past eight seasons, Gasol has 55 postseason double-doubles. Only Tim Duncan has more (61).
Gasol was 8-of-8 on uncontested shots for the game. The Bulls went 22-of-26 on such shots, with Mike Dunleavy and Jimmy Butler each making 4 of 5. Gasol is the fourth Bulls player to have a 20-point, 10-rebound, no-turnover game in the playoffs in the past 35 seasons, joining David Greenwood (1980-81), Horace Grant (1990-91) and Joakim Noah (2009-10).
Dunleavy was particularly good early in the game. His 13 first-quarter points were his second-most points in any quarter this season.
Butler defends James well
Butler was James’ initial defender on 73 of 75 half-court possessions Monday. James scored 15 of his 19 points when guarded by Butler but was 7-of-18 with five turnovers against him.
Cavaliers’ new-look lineup underwhelms
Due to Kevin Love’s injury and J.R. Smith’s suspension, David Blatt inserted Mike Miller and Iman Shumpert into the starting lineup.
The result was not positive, as the Cavaliers were outscored by 20 points in the 14 minutes Miller and Shumpert were on the court together. During that span, the Bulls shot 62 percent (16-of-26), including 7-of-8 from behind the arc.
The Cavaliers are 3-5 without Love this season, including 0-2 against the Bulls.
Looking ahead
NBA teams that win Game 1 of a best-of-seven playoff series win that series 77 percent of the time.
Game 2 is Wednesday in Cleveland. According to ESPN Basketball Power Index, the Bulls have a 56 percent chance of winning this series.
