Neither the Miami Heat nor the Chicago Bulls resembled the squads that met in Game 1 of the series on Wednesday night, a Miami cruised to a 115-78 victory over Chicago. The offensively-challenged Bulls couldn't keep it close in the second quarter, and it was downhill from there – but not without some intrigue.
This one was chippy from the jump, and the refs worked hard to control it. They dished out several technicals in the first half in the hopes that cooler heads would be forced to prevail. They did for the Miami Heat, who weren't indimidated or bothered in the slightest by the rough tactics. Nor did they back down, dishing out some low blows of their own.
Things got out of hand in the fourth quarter when the Heat were threatening to double up the Bulls. Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson were both ejected, with Gibson dropping the classic, “F U MFER” twice to the referees.
The Bulls will be in trouble all series long if they can't keep the score close with their defense, but they'll still head back to Chicago happy to have a game in hand.
Game 3 is Friday. Will Derrick Rose make an appearance?
Bulls-Heat Game 2: 43 personal fouls, 9 technical fouls, 1 flagrant, 2 ejections twitter.com/BleacherReport…
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 9, 2013
You get a technical! You get a technical! You get a technical! #oprahreffing
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) May 9, 2013
To recap—Noah, Gibson ejected Robinson, Teague each with a techWade, James, Chalmers-teched.Andersen with a flagrant
— chuck swirsky (@swirsk054) May 9, 2013
Gibson ejected going at Foster, who is known to be to arrogance what sauce is to ice cream. NBA behavior czar Stu Jackson in arena. Uh oh
— Sam Smith (@SamSmithHoops) May 9, 2013
Chicago suffers their worst playoff loss in team history and Miami gets their best playoff win in franchise history. #Heat 115 – #Bulls 78
— Brett Poirier NBA (@BrettNBA) May 9, 2013
Now all the Heat Twitter thugs are out. Nobody said the Bulls weren't going to lose another game. They got what they came for, road split.
— Rob Parker (@RobParkerLocal4) May 9, 2013
Heat 115, Bulls 78 in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semis. Heat set a franchise playoff record for margin of victory (37 points).
— Joseph Goodman (@JoeGoodmanJr) May 9, 2013
