Tuesday night was do or die for several teams. Orlando and Indiana had their backs against the walls facing elimination and Los Angeles pretty much had to win to take back control of the series and avoid facing elimination on the road in New Orleans. The Bulls got on to the next round and the Magic lived to fight another day. Kobe Bryant also may not be human with two thunderous dunks on his allegedly sprained ankle.
Day Eleven details below…
Game five: (4) Orlando Magic vs. (5) Atlanta Hawks, Amway Center
- Final Score: Magic 101, Hawks 76
- Orlando finally found its shooting stroke shooting 11 for 26 from long range and steamrolling Atlanta to force a Game Six. The Magic had control from the beginning, going on an 11-0 run after Dwight Howard picked up his second foul in the first quarter to take firm control of the game.
- Magic guard Jason Richardson: 17 points, 6-14 field goals, 3-6 3-point field goals.
- Hawks forward Josh Smith: 22 points, 7-18 field goals, 11 rebounds.
- Key Stats: Dwight Howard played only 30 minutes in the game and scored eight points on one field goal and grabbed eight rebounds. Patrick Ewing theory anyone? … J.J. Redick came off the bench and scored 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting. He did not attempt a 3-pointer. … Joe Johnson scored only five points on 2-for-12 shooting and Jamal Crawford had eight points, posting a -30.
- “We just played the way we should have been playing the whole series,” Magic center Dwight Howard said.
- “They were the hungrier team. If they lose, their summer starts tomorrow, and they played like it. We didn’t. We’re just lucky it’s not a round-robin tournament and the points don’t carry over,” Hawks guard Jamal Crawford said.
- Atlanta leads the series 3-2. Game Six is Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on NBATV in Atlanta.
Game five: (1) Chicago Bulls vs. (8) Indiana Pacers, United Center
- Final Score: Bulls 116, Pacers 89
- The Pacers dream journey to test the Bulls finally ended. Tom Thibodeau decided to go with Derrick Rose in foul trouble through the fourth quarter and the decision paid off as the Bulls ran away to take the series with a 32-24 fourth quarter.
- Bulls guard Derrick Rose: 25 points, six assists, 8-17 field goals.
- Pacers guard Danny Granger: 18 points, 7 assists.
- Key Stats: Derrick Rose had five fouls and played only 30 minutes on his way to his 25-point performance. … Luol Deng added 24 points on 14 field goal attempts. … The Pacers had 13 offensive rebounds led by Tyler Hansbrough’s four offensive boards. Hansbrough finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
- “I’m speechless right now. I really can’t believe it. It’s a great accomplishment. I’m happy for my teammates and my coaching staff,” Bulls guard Derrick Rose.
- “I’ve had more fun these last two months than I’ve had in six years,” Pacers general manager Larry Bird.
- Chicago won the series 4-1. The Bulls await the winner of the Magic/Hawks series.
Game five: (2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (7) New Orleans Hornets, Staples Center
- Final Score: Lakers 106, Hornets 90
- Kobe Bryant, playing on a sprained ankle, took over in the second half on his way to 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting as the Lakers won the critical game five.
- Lakers center Andrew Bynum: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 offensive rebounds
- Hornets forward Trevor Ariza: 22 points, 5-8 3-point field goals, 8-17 field goals
- Key Stats: The Lakers had six players score in double figures including all five starters and sixth man Lamar Odom. … Pau Gasol added 16 points and Derek Fisher had 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting. … Marco Bellinelli added 21 points and Chris Paul scored 20 as the Hornets shot 49.3 percent for the game. … New Orleans had 17 turnovers.
- “Did it look like his ankle was hurting?” Hornets coach Monty Williams on Kobe Bryant.
- “It got the crowd going. It seemed to spark him. I thought it was a big statement. He was at the point of (saying), ‘That’s enough,'” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said of two thunderous Kobe Bryant dunks.
- Los Angeles leads the series 3-2. Game Six is Thursday at 8 p.m. on TNT in New Orleans.
