Milwaukee Bucks pull off a stunning comeback vs Chicago Bulls

PHOENIX, AZ – NOVEMBER 14: Luol Deng #9 and Carlos Boozer #5 of the Chicago Bulls high five after scoring against the Phoenix Suns during the NBA game at US Airways Center on November 14, 2012 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Bulls defeated the Suns 112-106 in overtime.

Luol Deng, Bulls forward: “They scored more than us.”

The Milwaukee Bucks had a 9 game losing streak vs the Chicago Bulls and a three game losing streak in the last games which was snapped in dramatic fashion with a miraculous comeback. The Bulls had won the previous meeting 106-104 on a Derrick Rose jumper at the buzzer March 7 in Milwaukee. But Derrick Rose wasn’t around to help the Bulls for this one.

By halftime the Bucks led 50-40, but in the third quarter the Bulls connected on five three pointers to build a 27 point lead. The game seemed to be decided and the Bucks poured in their reserves to get the game through. Surprisingly the Bucks’ bench scored the last 40 points for them. Their bench outscored the Bulls’ bench 56-10 for the entire game. The Bucks reserves made a 31-4 run to overcome a 27 point deficit, including a 30-12 run in the fourth quarter.

For the Bulls, Carlos Boozer had a good game with 19 points and 11 rebounds for a double double. As did Rip Hamilton with 30 points. “As soon as you start feeling good about yourself in this league, you get knocked on your ass.” said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau.

“You have to play 48 minutes in this league. We were very loose with the lead at the end of the third. That game changed in four to five minutes — the last two of the third and first two of the fourth. And we couldn’t stop it. We couldn’t get stops. We couldn’t get to the free-throw line. We had 15 in the first half and four in the second. They had 12 blocked shots.” Thibodeau said.

CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 26: Ersan Ilyasova #7 of the Milwaukee Bucks is congratulated after a win against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on November 26, 2012 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bucks defeated the Bulls 93-92.

Nine of the Bucks played over 15 minutes in this one. Including super sub Ersan. Ersan Ilyasova scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, 12 in the fourth quarter. He was unquestionably the player of the game for the Bucks. And Ekpe Udoh was the unsung hero for the Bucks. He hit the bucket which gave the Bucks the lead for good. And he played tight defense on Rip Hamilton at the end to force a missed shot at the final buzzer. Udoh also had 5 blocks. Mostly it was an incredible team effort from the Bucks. After Illyasova’s 18, three Bucks players finished with 11 points.

The Bucks are now in first place in the Central Division. “We got different guys in the game,” Skiles said. “They played very well together, played with a lot of energy, played some good defense.”

Milwaukee played the entire fourth quarter with the same five reserves: Ilyasova, Ekpe Udoh, Beno Udrih, Mike Dunleavy and Doron Lamb. Those five scrubs led a balanced attack and a tenacious defense to help mount a comeback.

The Bulls record this season is a paltry 6-7 now. This is the team which had the best record in the league two years ago. The absence of Rose was starkly felt. Rip Hamilton tried to step up down the stretch but he missed two shots in the last minute which gave the game away for the Bulls, including a failed buzzer beater. And Luol Deng played 47 minutes in this one, he can’t be fresh the entire game if he cant give his legs a rest.

The Bucks won 93-92. Here are the match highlights:

Hear ye! Hear ye! Tickets up for grabs. Just tweet a picture of a Bulls jersey in a toilet and Bucks forward Drew Gooden will send you game tickets.