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By Sam Smith | 4.25.2015 | 7:22 p.m. CT
The Milwaukee Bucks Saturday extended the first round playoff series to a fifth game in Chicago Monday with a 92-90 victory.
The Bucks won at the buzzer on an inbounds cut with 1.3 seconds by Jerryd Bayless to win after the Bulls tied the game with an 11-3 run. The Bulls had a last chance to win immediately before, but Derrick Rose was stripped on a triple team for the Bulls 28th turnover of the game.
Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 33 points while Rose had 14 and eight turnovers. Pau Gasol had 16 points and 10 rebounds. O.J. Mayo led Milwaukee with 18. The Bulls lead the series 3-1.
Potential closeout games can bring out the desperation and there were some hard fouls early as O.J. Mayo and Aaron Brooks were assessed flagrant fouls and Jerryd Bayless a technical. The Bulls despite succumbing to the Bucks pressure tactics early with nine first quarter turnovers still led 23-19 after one. The Bulls then suffered a déjà vu all over again as the Bucks with their second unit shooters of Bayless, Mayo and Jared Dudley raced out to a 46-34 lead with a 21-2 run, swinging the ball for three pointers. But again the Bulls closed the second quarter strong on their 16-4 run with Butler’s banked in three to end the half tied at 50. Butler had 23 in the first half. The teams traded baskets, if not punches, back and forth through the third quarter with the Bucks finally nosing ahead 73-71 heading into the fourth quarter and with the Bulls with 21 turnovers through three quarters.
Observations:
1. In many respects, Jimmy Butler has become the go-to guy for the Bulls as after they fell behind in first half, coach Tom Thibodeau began calling plays almost exclusively for Butler.
2. The Bulls remained slow to move the ball out of the Bucks pressure, failing to swing the ball for that second pass that usually leaves an open three pointer. But the Bulls were making the threes they got with six of 10 in the first half, three from Butler.
3. The Bulls saved their season worst ball handling and passing game for Game 4 as they blew by their season high for turnovers midway through the fourth quarter with the Bucks scoring almost 40 points from Bulls turnovers.