Bulls beat Bobcats, claim last NBA playoff spot

  • Associated Press
  • Wednesday, April 14, 2010 9:07pm
  • SportsSports

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Joakim Noah came through the tunnel, made a left turn toward the locker room and yelled for everyone to hear.

“Let’s shock the world!” he screamed.

It would indeed require a monumental upset for Chicago to advance in the playoffs, but the Bulls overcame numerous obstacles to get the chance.

Derrick Rose scored 27 points and Noah added 21 points and 13 rebounds in a 98-89 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night that gave Chicago the NBA’s last unclaimed playoff spot.

Despite the injuries, internal strife, trades and a horrible stretch early in the season, the Bulls closed the regular season with a three-game winning streak to beat out Toronto for the right to face Eastern Conference top seed Cleveland.

“You know what I love about this team?” Noah said. “I feel that even when times were hard, we went on a 10-game losing streak, I feel like we never let down. We always believed in each other. To be in this position right now is a great feeling, and I feel it’s really deserving.”

Needing a win or a Raptors loss to New York to get in, the Bulls quickly took it to the Bobcats, who were already locked into the seventh seed in the East and a first-round matchup with Orlando.

Chicago never trailed and led by as many as 18 points in clinching its second straight playoff berth and fifth in six years. It even led to a postgame locker room visit from former Bulls star and current Bobcats owner Michael Jordan.

There wasn’t much for Jordan to see from his courtside seat of his Bobcats, who couldn’t match Chicago’s intensity.

Tyrus Thomas had 16 points and nine rebounds against his former team, while Gerald Wallace scored 15 points and Stephen Jackson 14 in limited minutes for the Bobcats, who were already looking ahead to the franchise’s first playoff appearance.

“It’s going to be a great feeling,” Wallace said. “I’m actually getting nervous right now.”

The Bulls will join them, even if it once looked unlikely.

Chicago struggled early adjusting to Ben Gordon’s departure in free agency, including blowing a 35-point lead in a home loss to Sacramento. That led to reports that coach Vinny Del Negro was about to be fired.

Then the Bulls traded John Salmons to Milwaukee and Thomas to Charlotte to clear salary cap space for this summer’s free agency class.

Just when the Bulls appeared to be in good shape, a report surfaced Tuesday that Del Negro and Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson got into a physical altercation after a game last month over the number of minutes Noah played in his return from a foot injury.

Not long after the Bulls released a statement downplaying the incident, a healthy Noah was dominating the inside and Rose was beating Charlotte’s guards off the dribble.

Chicago led 8-0 and 19-6. After the Bobcats got within 65-60 on Boris Diaw’s hoop with 4:35 left in the third quarter, Rose scored Chicago’s next eight points and the Bobcats didn’t threaten in the fourth quarter.

Taj Gibson added 11 points and 13 rebounds for Chicago, which sent Charlotte to only its 10th home loss.

“I’m very proud of the way the guys have hung together all year, through a lot of things, and just gutted it out,” Del Negro said.

Bobcats coach Larry Brown called the final regular-season game a “dilemma.” He wanted to rest some starters, but also said he didn’t want that to affect the Chicago-Toronto playoff race.

Asked what Jordan, who led Chicago to six NBA titles, wanted, Brown replied: “I think he would want to do what’s right.”

So Charlotte’s regulars started. But then a key player off the bench, center Tyson Chandler, suffered a hip pointer and elbow injury in a nasty fall fighting for a loose ball.

An X-ray on his elbow was negative, and while Chandler didn’t return, he was confident he’ll be ready for the playoffs.

“It’s just a hip pointer. I’m going to be sore, but at this point, just another little thing that’s banged up,” he said.

Brown risked his starters little after that. Wallace, Jackson and Raymond Felton, who struggled to contain Rose, played only 24 minutes apiece.

“They battled more than we did and I’m happy for them,” Felton said of the Bulls. “I’m happy we’re both in the playoffs. It’s time for the postseason.”

NOTES: Brown sneaked in a joke discussing how the Bulls have been able to overcome numerous obstacles. “Chicago has not had an easy year. To put themselves in the position they have it’s pretty neat, even with people fighting,” he said, smiling. … Brown later insisted the Del Negro-Paxson incident was overblown, saying he’s had issues with several executives, including Jordan. “Michael’s been mad at me,” he said. … Bulls assistant Bernie Bickerstaff said he’s happy that Charlotte has reached the playoffs for the first time. Bickerstaff was the franchise’s first coach and GM, and took Wallace in the expansion draft.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Tips Week in Review: Everett splits at Prince George, beats Victoria

Eric Jamieson’s hat trick against Victoria highlights Presidents’ Day Weekend

Marysville Pilchuck’s Michael Smathers Jr. takes the ball up the court during a Feb. 7, 2025 home league game against Monroe. (Courtesy of Spencer Janzen)
Marysville Pilchuck’s Michael Smathers Jr. stars in freshman season

The guard averaged 19 points per game for the Tomahawks this season.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 9-15

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 9-15. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Everett qualifies 13 girls for Mat Classic

Mia Cianega wins at 190 as Seagulls place third at district wrestling tournament.

Arlington’s Leyton Martin puts three fingers in the air after making a three point shot during the game against Glacier Peak on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 15

Leyton Martin’s triple-double leads Arlington to district win

Freshman leads Jackson to 4A district swim title

Syunta Lee sets two meet records as Timberwolves edge Lake Stevens.

Shorecrest wins 3A district swim title

Snohomish’s Torsten Hokanson sets two meet records and leads two winning relays.

Marysville Pilchuck claims 2A district wrestling title

Tomahawks win three individual championship bouts.

Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Ryan Nembhard (0) reacts during the NCAA Tournament at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Friday, March 29, 2024. (Rebecca Villagracia / Tribune News Services)
Ryan Nembhard named WCC Player of Week

For the first time this year, and with only four regular-season games… Continue reading

Shorecrest’s Cassie Chesnut leaps in the air to block a shot by Shorewood’s Bridget Cox during the 3A district playoff game on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Shorecrest girls win rubber match against Shorewood

Cassie Chesnut’s 28 points, 18 rebounds pushes the Scots to District 1 3A semifinals with 53-38 win.

Monroe's Halle Keller drives past Meadowdale's Payton Fleishman during a Feb. 14, 2025 3A District 1 playoff game at Meadowdale High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Last-second layup powers Monroe past Mavs

The Bearcats staged a 50-49 road upset in a district playoff clash.

Snohomish’s Kendall Hammer yells in celebration with teammate Snohomish’s Sienna Capelli after she makes a shot and is fouled during the game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 14

Snohomish, Stanwood girls cruise into district semis.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.