NBA Game Summary - Washington at Chicago 05.4.2005
|
Chicago, IL (Basketball News) - Gilbert Arenas drilled a jumper at the buzzer to lift the Washington Wizards to a 112-110 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 5 of their first round series Wednesday night.
Arenas was just 5-of-14 shooting for 16 points in the game, but he came through when it mattered, lifting up near the left elbow and getting off a tough jumper over Chicago’s Kirk Hinrich and Tyson Chandler.
Washington had led by as many as 22 points in the game and was ahead by 10 with just 41 seconds remaining. But clutch three-pointers by Chicago reserve Jannero Pargo — including one that tied the game with 5.2 seconds — forced Arenas’ heroics.
The Wizards have now won three straight in this best-of-seven series since dropping Games 1 and 2 in Chicago. They can clinch their first playoff series win since 1982 with a victory in Game 6, scheduled for Friday in Washington.
Larry Hughes had 33 points to lead Washington, Antawn Jamison added 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Brendan Haywood scored 17 in the win.
Ben Gordon scored 11 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to lead Chicago. Hinrich added 23 points in the loss, and Chandler had 22 points and 10 rebounds.
If the Bulls want to force a seventh game at home, they will have to reverse a long losing streak in Washington, where they have dropped 10 straight games dating back to 2001.