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NEW YORK -- The Chicago Bulls lost Game 5 – but you can’t blame the replacements.

With Derrick Rose continuing to sit, and fellow starting guard Kirk Hinrich joining him on the sideline with a calf injury, coach Tom Thibodeau gave Nate Robinson a starting nod on Monday, along with second-year man Jimmy Butler.

Both played well, keeping the Bulls within striking distance until the final four minutes, when the Nets pulled away for a 110-91 victory.

Robinson scored a team-high 20 points, shooting 9-for-19 from the field, and also had eight assists. Butler scored 18 points, and had four steals as well.

Thibodeau said that rebounding was the difference in the game. The Nets outboarded the Bulls 44-33, including 17-11 on the offensive glass, and had a 24-12 advantage in second-chance points.

“Right from the start of the game I knew [the Nets] were reacting to the ball quicker than we were,” Thibodeau said. “So I was concerned about that right from the beginning. And it never changed.”

Robinson received the loudest boos of any of Chicago’s five starters during the pregame introductions -- not surprising, considering he sparked the Bulls’ incredible comeback in Game 4 with an electrifying 34-point performance, including 23 points in the fourth quarter.

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CHICAGO -- Late in this hard-fought playoff game, with the Chicago Bulls on his back and Tom Thibodeau’s breath on his neck, Nate Robinson couldn’t cool down.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on between Robinson’s ears when he plays his special brand of basketball, just think of the announcer’s voice on NBA Jam.

“I always think I’m on fire,” he said after scoring 34 points in the Bulls’ wild 142-134, triple-overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets. “Like the old school game, NBA Jam, you make a couple and the rim’s on fire and when you shoot the ball, the ball’s on fire. I feel like that at times. Well, all the time. When I’m in the game, I play with a lot of confidence and you kind of got to lie to yourself that you can’t miss.”

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The Brooklyn Nets looked to be on their way to evening this series, with a 14-point lead late in the fourth quarter. But an epic comeback powered by Nate Robinson, thwarted the Nets efforts and made for a remarkable victory for the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls now hold a commanding 3-games-to-1 series lead in the series. Let’s delve into the statistical recap.

A long game’s journey into night
This was the seventh playoff game in NBA history that went at least triple-overtime. Only one playoff game went quadruple overtime, a game between the Boston Celtics and Syracuse Nationals in 1953.

The game went long enough that all 10 starting players scored at least 15 points. The Elias Sports Bureau notes that since starts were tracked in 197y0-71, this was only the second playoff game in which that happened. The other instance was in 1987 in a double-overtime game between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks,


The Bulls scored a team record 142 points, the most by any team in a playoff game since 1992, when the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Phoenix Suns, 153-151 in the highest combined scoring playoff game in NBA history.

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CHICAGO -- Let's take a quick look at how the Chicago Bulls pulled out an unbelievable 142-134 victory in triple overtime over the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday afternoon at the United Center in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. The Bulls lead the series 3-1.

How it happened: The Bulls trailed by 14 points with less than three minutes left in regulation. That's when Nate Robinson decided to take over. Robinson put the Bulls on his back and lifted them into the first overtime by going on a personal 12-0 run and then making a crucial pass to Carlos Boozer to tie the game. The Bulls gutted it out the rest of the way, getting huge contributions from Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng, among others. Robinson finished with 34 points in just 29 minutes before fouling out. Noah, who was supposed to play only about 30 minutes because of his plantar fasciitis, played 39 minutes, scoring 15 points and pulling down 13 rebounds. Deron Williams finished with 32 points for the Nets, but it wasn't enough.

What it means: This win not only gives the Bulls a commanding lead, but it also gives them an enormous amount of confidence because of the way they performed. They grinded this game out and never gave up despite being down by double digits down the stretch. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau has always talked about how he loves the mental toughness his team shows, and that was never more evident than on Saturday. The Bulls played with the type of never-give-up attitude that has been their hallmark over the past few years. Robinson's performance was memorable, Hinrich played great over 60 minutes, Boozer and Deng were solid, and Noah played better than even Thibodeau could have hoped. This is a game that will live in the annals of Bulls' playoff history.

Hits: The Bulls shot 53.2 percent from the field. The Nets shot 49.5 percent from the field.

Misses: The Nets turned the ball over 20 times and missed 16 free throws.

Stat of the night: Robinson had 23 points in the fourth quarter. The franchise record for a points in a quarter is 24 -- set by Michael Jordan.

What's next: The series heads back to Brooklyn for Game 5 on Monday night. Tipoff is at 6 p.m. CT.

CHICAGO -- Brooklyn Nets guard C.J. Watson and Chicago Bulls guard Nate Robinson each received a technical foul in the second quarter of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals after getting tangled up and tackling each other into the scorer's table.

Officials reviewed the play and determined that no punches had been thrown and both players remained in the game.

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Chicago Bulls point guard Nate Robinson said Monday that he and Brooklyn Nets point guard C.J. Watson don't like each other.

"We're just competitors," Robinson said after the Bulls evened their Eastern Conference quarterfinals with the Nets at one game apiece. "I don't like him, he don't like me. That's how it's going to be. There's animosity between the two of us, and for us, that's good."

Watson said Wednesday he heard about Robinson's comments when he came into the gym for practice.

"I mean, he can say whatever he wants to say," Watson told ESPN New York. "I'm just trying to win at the end of the day, so that's what it is."

But is the feeling mutual?

Watson chuckled, before saying, "I mean, obviously you know we don't like each other. I mean, I really don't talk to him off the court. It is what it is."

Both players have been extremely effective coming off the bench in the first two games of the best-of-7 series. Robinson is averaging 14 points, while Watson is averaging 12 points.

Game 3 is Thursday night at United Center.

"This series isn't about me or Nate," Watson said. "It's about trying to go out there and win. If it was anyone else that I was mostly going up against -- if I was mostly playing against Kirk Hinrich -- I mean it'd probably be the same against him. So it's not just me against Nate, it's about being competitive and trying to go out there and win and not backing down and not trying to lose."

"When you don't like somebody and you're playing against somebody, you want to destroy the other person," Robinson said Monday. "You want to shut that person down. You want to do good, so for me, it's just a lot of confidence.

"He makes it competitive, and that's how it should be. That's how the game should be played. When you play against guys on other teams, you shouldn't like them."

Chicago Bulls guard Nate Robinson doesn't hide his dislike for the Brooklyn Nets' C.J. Watson. In fact, Robinson views it as a positive.

"We're just competitors," Robinson said Monday after helping the Bulls even their Eastern Conference quarterfinals at a game apiece. "I don't like him, he don't like me. That's how it's going to be. There's animosity between the two of us, and for us, that's good."

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CHICAGO -- As he watched Thursday night's gritty 118-111 overtime win over the New York Knicks unfold from the bowels of the United Center, injured Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson said, he and fellow injured big man Joakim Noah got so frustrated they almost broke the television screen on which they were watching the game.

They couldn't believe they weren't out on the floor with the rest of their teammates, but they never doubted that the Bulls could find a way to win despite the fact that they still have so many guys out because of various injuries. They knew the spirit and will they play with as a group doesn't change -- no matter who is on the floor. They knew that just because the talent might not have been there, it didn't mean the heart of this squad suddenly disappeared.

Most of all, Gibson, Noah and the rest of the Bulls understood the most true fact of all when it comes to this up and down Bulls season without Derrick Rose: Just when you're about to count out the Bulls and write them off completely, that's when they will find a way to surprise everyone.

"It was a big win," Gibson said. "It seems that we don't really get any respect around the East. ... We tried to make a statement. We tried to let people know that we're still a tough team. We got a lot of injuries. A lot of people don't understand we've had a lot of injuries on this team throughout the season and we're still playing well. But with this team, you don't know what you're going to get. We lose to below-.500 teams, and we come out and beat some of the best teams around the NBA."

In many ways, the past two weeks have served as a perfect microcosm for this team as it enters the final four games of the regular season. The Bulls have beaten the Miami Heat, who went into that game on a 27-game winning streak, and the Knicks, who went into Thursday's game on a 13-game winning streak. They've also lost to the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors. They know they can beat any team or lose to any team on a given night, which gives them a perfect amount of confidence in games, such as Thursday's, that most people don't believe they can win.

"Honestly, there wasn't anything said about the [Knicks'] streak," Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich said. "It wasn't like, 'Oh well, they've won X amount of games in a row and we're going to stop them.' It was just focus on what we have to do, and for the most part, we did a pretty good job."

There's the key for the Bulls. When they are locked in and focused, they really can beat anyone. This notion is exemplified by the play of veteran point guard Nate Robinson. He has the rare ability to continuously make coaches furious and incredibly happy in the span of a single possession. He proved that again against the Knicks, going off for 35 points off the bench. For as much flak as Robinson takes because of some of his questionable decisions on the floor, he also plays with the type of swagger his teammates feed off.

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CHICAGO -- Let's take a quick look at how the Chicago Bulls earned a hard-fought 118-111 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Thursday night at the United Center.

How it happened: Nate Robinson had a huge game off the bench for the Bulls, scoring 35 points, and Jimmy Butler had another big game, pouring in 22 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. The energetic pair led the way for a Bulls team that overcame a 17-point deficit while still playing without Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose. Given the way the Bulls have played over the last week, this is a win coach Tom Thibodeau and his team should savor as they head into the final four games of the regular season.

What it means: The Bulls win these kinds of games against high-level teams because they play together with no fear. No matter who is on the floor, no matter who is hurt, they believe they can win because Thibodeau has instilled confidence in them. Confidence is a trait that Robinson is never lacking. He always believes he can dominate a game and he always believes he can lead his team to victory. He plays with a swagger that can drive Thibodeau crazy, but it's the type of energy the Bulls desperately need down the stretch. To that point, Butler continues to improve day by day and is showing why so many people within the organization are encouraged by his success. Thibodeau clearly trusts in him more than he did earlier in the season, and he should. Butler has proven he can make a major impact against some of the best teams in the league. He has played 98 minutes over the last two games.

Hits: Rip Hamilton chipped in with 14 points, eight assists and three rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

Misses: Carlos Boozer had 13 points and 15 rebounds, but he and Kirk Hinrich combined to go just 6-for-22 from the field.

Stat of the night: The Knicks' 13-game winning streak is over.

What's next: The Bulls are right back at it Friday night when they face off against the Toronto Raptors.

DEERFIELD, Ill. -- With so many injuries, the Chicago Bulls can't be picky these days when it comes to a starting lineup, although it appears they have eliminated one guard combination.

After using a starting guard combination of Nate Robinson and Kirk Hinrich in Sunday's defeat at Detroit, coach Tom Thibodeau was asked if he liked what he saw from the duo. Thibodeau paused.

"Uh … no; no I didn't," he said. "Because it changed what we did when we subbed. Actually they started fine. The first quarter was pretty good until we broke the lineup. But then that's when everything changed. That's what I didn't like.

"I thought we had a pretty good rhythm the way we were before that. Because Nate, the way it was structured before, we took advantage of Nate's scoring. When Kirk came back in Nate could go to the 2 (guard). It's something we'll look at."

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Here’s a quick look at how the Chicago Bulls lost to the Detroit Pistons, 99-85, Sunday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

How it happened: The Bulls seemed like a tired bunch despite having the previous night off, unlike the Pistons, who lost in Minnesota on Saturday. Chicago got a game-high 21 points from Carlos Boozer while Nate Robinson tossed in 18. Detroit was deadly from behind the 3-point line, nailing 9-of-18 attempts, while Chicago was 3-for-15 from behind the arc.

What it means: With all eight playoff berths clinched in the Eastern Conference it’s all about seeding now for the Bulls, who had their two-game win streak snapped. With six games left in the regular season, they’re just a game ahead of sixth-seeded Atlanta and now two games behind Brooklyn for the fourth seed.

Hits: Joakim Noah, who returned to the Bulls’ lineup after an eight-game absence due to plantar fasciitis, was 4-for-4 shooting from the field in 21:25 of playing time. He was 5-of-8 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points. Noah also grabbed seven rebounds, had three assists and blocked one shot.

Misses: Chicago had won 18 in a row against the Pistons before Sunday’s loss.

Stat of the night: As a team, the Bulls came into Sunday’s game shooting 77 percent from the free-throw line. Against the Pistons they were just 64 percent from the line.

What’s next: The Bulls return to action Tuesday at home against the Toronto Raptors.

CHICAGO -- Twenty-three point eight seconds left, a one-point game, Vladimir Radmanovic's in, the Friday night United Center crowd is on their collective feet, where else would you rather be?

Yes, another night in paradise, which for Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau means another ugly victory, this time an inartful 87-86 win over the Orlando Magic.

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CHICAGO -- Nate Robinson summed up perfectly his entire mindset on the game of basketball and the way he plays it Friday night after he keyed the Chicago Bulls' 87-86 win over the Orlando Magic. As Robinson described why he has so much confidence in his game when it matters most, he was asked when he last felt afraid to take a shot.

"Probably the last time I've been to the doctor," he said.

The truth, as Robinson knows, is that he's never afraid to take shots. Robinson could miss a hundred shots and still believe the next one he takes is going in. It's the blessing and the curse of having him on your team, and over the past week it's been more of a blessing for the Bulls. Signed as an afterthought in the summer to a contract that wasn't even guaranteed until the new year, Robinson has become a staple of the emotional roller coaster that is Bulls basketball in a season without Derrick Rose. Robinson has provided more of a stabilizing spark than the Bulls' front office could have hoped. Sure, there are still times when Tom Thibodeau is ready to pull the rest of his hair out over the way Robinson runs the offense at times. But there are also times when Robinson takes over the game with his offensive confidence. Without Rose on the floor, Robinson is the guy who can create and make important shots, a trait that is still a valuable commodity in the league.

"He's one of the great scorers in the league," Bulls center Nazr Mohammed said. "He can get you points in bunches. Nothing's changed. He's been doing it since day one he stepped into this league and he's continuing to do it."

For his part, Robinson just tries to take it all in stride. He enjoys the moment and relishes the chance to be the difference-maker for this beleaguered team.

"I just play," Robinson said. "You guys are the ones that write all the stuff you want to write about me. I don't care. I just play as hard as I can. How I play just helps me out more playing, I guess, helter-skelter. That's the way I've been playing my whole life so it won't change."

That's just the way his teammates want it. Like Thibodeau, sometimes they are driven nuts by Robinson's shot selection. But, like Thibodeau, his teammates have come to respect the way Robinson plays. They feed off the energy he brings and they love the fact that he plays with so much swagger all the time. Robinson is like that guy at the bar whom his buddies love to have around to meet girls. Sometimes he'll swing and miss but he'll never be intimidated by anyone. He believes in himself and his game for better or worse.

"Exciting," Jimmy Butler said while trying to describe Robinson's game. "I think that's the word. When you need a basket he can go get you one. If you need a stop he can do that. If you need a yelling, overemotional short guy, he can do that too. But man, Nate's key to this team. The offense that he brings and the way he can easily shift the momentum of the game. I think that's big on every part of any team and Nate's that for us."

Some nights Robinson will drive you nuts, but there are others, like Friday, when he will do what he needs to in order to help his teammates pull out a win when they appear to be completely out of gas after playing their fifth game in seven nights. Enjoy the ride with Robinson because you never know what you'll get.

"I'm not afraid to fail," Robinson said. "You're going to have to fail a lot to succeed in this game. So for me, you just can't be afraid to take that shot. You can't be afraid to miss it or make it."

CHICAGO -- Let's take a quick look at how the Chicago Bulls pulled out an 87-86 win over the Orlando Magic on Friday night at the United Center.

How it happened: Nate Robinson had another big night for the Bulls, scoring 19 points and dishing out five assists. Luol Deng bounced back from a tough start and knocked down several big shots down the stretch. He finished the game with 19 points and four rebounds. Kirk Hinrich added 13 points as the Bulls capped off a five-games-in-seven-nights stretch.

What it means: The Bulls were exhausted and still found a way to win. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau shouldn't worry about the statistics from this game … only the fact that his players found a way to win after an emotional victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night. The key for the Bulls over the last few games has been the energy Robinson is providing. When the rest of his teammates appear to be flat, Robinson injects life into a group that sorely needs it as they continue to play without Joakim Noah, Marco Belinelli, Derrick Rose, Taj Gibson and Rip Hamilton. Robinson can give Thibodeau fits but he has been a solid surprise for the veteran coach and provided a more consistent approach than expected.

Hits: Vladimir Radmanovic had a solid night off the bench, scoring seven points and pulling down four rebounds.

Misses: Carlos Boozer, Nazr Mohammed and Deng combined to go 12-for-40 from the field.

Stat of the night: The Bulls shot just 21.7 percent from the field … and still found a way to win.

What's next: The Bulls have a day off Saturday before facing off against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night.

WASHINGTON -- Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau and his players usually find ways to win close games. On Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards they found different ways to lose one.

Whether it was missed shots down the stretch (the Bulls shot just 39.3 percent in the game and managed just 17 points in the final 12 minutes), emotions that couldn't be controlled (Kirk Hinrich picked up two technical fouls and was ejected with just 3:19 left in regulation), blown free throws (Jimmy Butler and Nate Robinson missed four straight foul shots in the final three minutes) or simply plays that couldn't be made (the Bulls repeatedly missed chances down the stretch to pull out the win), this is the kind of game that will have Thibodeau pulling out the little hair that he has left.

Sure, the Bulls can point to the fact that they are banged up, already playing without Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Marco Belinelli, Rip Hamilton and now Taj Gibson, who injured his left knee again in the second quarter. The problem with that argument, while understandable, is that it doesn't hold as much weight in a game that the rest of the (relatively) healthy players knew they should have won.

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