Turnabout is fair play. Particularly in the NBA.
Whilst Derrick Rose may have sent the city of Chicago into hysterics over the weekend by banking in a ridiculous game-winning three point shot as time expired, LeBron James silenced the same crowd by returning serve in kind today.
James, struggling dearly with his jump shot all game, found his aim when it mattered most, winding back the clock to sink a game-winning shot from the corner to lift his Cleveland Cavaliers to victory in game 4 of their Eastern Conference Semi-Final matchup against the Chicago Bulls, levelling the back-and-forth series at 2 games a piece.
Capping off a wild game that featured, among other things, an impromptu performance by Kanye West during a media timeout, the Cavs rallied from a 7 point deficit at the end of the third quarter to draw square with just 1.5 seconds remaining on the clock.
When @kanyewest does an impromptu performance at the #Bulls game.. pic.twitter.com/t0FBB2KSse
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) May 10, 2015
Quickly inbounding the ball to James – who despite posting 25 points (with 14 rebounds and 8 assists) had issues with his shooting all game long, registering a paltry 10 scoring shots from 30 attempts from the field – the Cavs number 23 launched a prayer over Bulls’ shooting guard Jimmy Butler that sailed into the net with the buzzer spitting the air, propelling the Cavs to an 86 – 84 win.
The Bulls defence held star Cavs point guard Kyrie Irving to a reasonably quiet night, putting up 12 points with a mere 2 assists off of 40 on-court minutes. Whilst for the Bulls, Derrick Rose put up a game-high 31 points, but remained largely ineffective elsewhere with 4 assists and 2 rebounds to his name.
Of the Australian contingent, Cavs’ back-up guard Matthew Dellavedova continued his stat-light but important defensive role, scoring 16 minutes of court time and showing off his now trademark tenacious defence. Whilst for the Bulls, Cameron Bairstow remained bench-bound for the entire game – a coach’s decision DNP.
The series now shifts back to Cleveland for game 5, scheduled for this coming Wednesday morning Australian time.
Photo: Jonathan Daniel via Getty Images.
