Celtics finally overcome Bulls in epic series

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics pulled away from Chicago in the first half for a 109-99 win over the Bulls that clinch their NBA first-round playoff series in Game 7 on Saturday. After a record-setting seven overtimes in the first six games, the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics made an early night of it, and set up an Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Orlando Magic. Ray Allen followed his 51-point Game 6 performance with 23 on Saturday, Paul Pierce added 20 and Boston completed a rare regulation victory in what was one of the better first-round playoff series in league history. "I don't see great. I just see hard," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "For a coach, it's just: Win the series." Ben Gordon scored 33 and Kirk Hinrich scored 14 of his 16 in the fourth quarter to help Chicago cut the lead to three points — thanks in part to a bizarre scoring change that added a point to the Bulls' score two hours after a first-half 3-pointer was mistakenly ruled a 2. Boston made all 11 of its free throws in the last 2 minutes to hold on. The seventh-seeded Bulls return to Chicago knowing they took the defending champs to the limit. The four overtime games was a record for a series, and the seven overtimes total were the most any team has ever played in an entire playoff. "It was a long, grueling series. This was one of the most mentally tough series I've ever been in," Pierce said. "Thank goodness we were battle-tested and we were able to pull this out in seven games. ... We still are the champs until somebody knocks us off." Chicago coach Vinny Del Bosque said the series was a valuable lesson for his young team, despite the pain of the loss. "Whenever you can go through an experience like this, it's only going to make you better. Knowing how the level of physicality goes up, knowing how playoff basketball is played. ... It's a great learning experience for us." – AP