Debby Wong-USA Today Sports
Heading into Game 2, the Chicago Bulls knew that they needed to clamp down defensively and make some adjustments. The Brooklyn Nets shot over 55% from the field in their victory on Saturday, but the Bulls were able to limit things in Game 2, taking advantage on the road in a crucial point of the series.
Chicago faced the difficult task of potentially returning to the Windy City with an 0-2 deficit, but the Bulls responded on Monday night with a 90-82 victory. After giving up 106 points in Game 1, the adjustments that Chicago made in Game 2 virtually speak for themselves. Chicago limited Brooklyn to a 35.4 shooting percentage on Monday night, which included a 4-of-21 mark from deep. Joe Johnson, who got hot at one point late in the fourth quarter, accounted for three of those four three pointers.
In all, Chicago played the prototypical game that was necessary on the road in Brooklyn. The Bulls got an improved game from Luol Deng, while Kirk Hinrich also rebounded from a poor effort on Saturday. The high energy and gutsy performance of the night however, goes to Joakim Noah, who once again played through a painful foot injury. Noah’s 11 points and ten rebounds were crucial for the Bulls, but it was his energy that sparked the Bulls when they needed it the most.
With the series now tied at one game apiece, the focus turns to Chicago, as the Bulls have forced Brooklyn to now win on the road at one point or another if the Nets hope to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals. Heading into the playoffs, it was obvious that the Bulls could come away with this series, but their win on Monday night has put them in position to truly take control of things back home in Chicago.
Follow Paul Seaver on Twitter: @PaulSeaverRS
