Beal scored a game-high 26 points and Nene scored 17, with six coming in overtime, as the Wizards accomplished their mission of returning home to Washington for Friday’s Game 3. Grasping to a two-point lead in the closing seconds, Nene fouled out while contesting Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich on a driving layup, sending the former Wizard to the free throw line with 2.4 seconds remaining.
Hinrich missed the first, then intentionally missed the second. John Wall grabbed the rebound and wisely threw the ball up the floor to melt down the clock. Wall scored just two points in the second half, but he added seven assists, matching the game-high total of Ariza.
Bulls guard Jimmy Butler gave the Bulls an 87-77 lead when he hit two free throws. But the Wizards went on an 14-4 run. Beal scored nine points during the run and made a free throw to tie the game at 91. The Bulls had multiple chances to regain the lead.
Reserve Taj Gibson (22 points, 10 rebounds) grabbed two offensive rebounds in the final minute, snaring a missed jumper by Kirk Hinrich, and then another runner by D.J. Augustin. But he failed to cleanly control the ball and he lost his dribble near the Wizards’ bench. Nene wisely lunged to the floor and placed his hand on the ball, forcing a jump ball.
Gibson was clearly flustered and Nene took advantage, winning the jump ball. Wittman drew up a play for Beal to come around a Nene screen but missed a baseline jumper, sending the game into overtime. In the extra frame, Nene came alive, hitting a long jumper, throwing down a dunk and then hitting a step-back jumper with Joakim Noah, the NBA’s defensive player of the year contesting.
Before the game, the Wizards spoke about not being satisfied with just one win in Chicago and they came out with a determination to knock out the Bulls early. Wall and Beal struggled from the floor in Game 1, but got the Wizards started out nicely. Wall made a jumper, Beal followed with a three-pointer and Nene hit another jumper as the Wizards scored the first seven points of the game.
Beal put the Wizards ahead, 15-6, when he corralled a pass from Ariza and threw down a two-handed dunk as a stunned sellout crowd looked on silently. The Wizards wouldn’t let up in the first period, taking a 29-12 lead when Ariza knocked down a three-pointer.
The problems began for Washington Augustin entered the game and provided instant offense, scoring eight quick points to wake up the home fans.
Martell Webster put the Wizards ahead 45-32 with a three-pointer but the game quickly started to unravel as the Bulls’ relentless pressure and rough play started to wear them down. Ariza was attempting to throw an inbounds pass under the Wizards’ basket when Hinrich wrapped his left arm around Beal to keep him from running free. Beal lifted his arm to get separation from Hinrich, then chopped down, appearing to hit Hinrich in the face.
Hinrich responded by shoving Beal in the back and walked to confront him. Beal cracked a smile as players from both teams stepped in to diffuse the situation. Both players were assessed technical fouls and Beal was given a personal foul.
Augustin then buried a three-pointer to bring the Bulls within three points. Beal tried to answer with a long jumper and missed but he grabbed his own rebound. He then dribbled out and pulled up for a three-pointer that dropped – but Coach Randy Wittman called a timeout to negate the bucket. An angry Beal walked to the bench, where Wittman drew up a play that ended with Gortat getting a layup that put Washington ahead, 45-41.
The Bulls would keep charging, with backup forward Taj Gibson punishing the Wizards on the offensive glass. He rebounded a Noah rebound and threw down a dunk that brought the Bulls within a point, but Wall had the appropriate response to end the second period.
Wall hit a 19-foot jumper, coerced Hinrich into fouling him on a fadeaway bank shot and added another short jumper to send his team into the locker room grasping to a 56-49 lead.
Ariza backed up to box out Noah and Noah raised his elbow toward Ariza’s neck. When Ariza answered with an elbow of his own, Noah shoved him but walked away shaking his head when Ariza stepped to him.
Noah was severely outplayed by Nene and Marcin Gortat in Game 1, with the Wizards’ big man tandem combining for 39 points and 21 rebounds. But Noah had no desire to get shown up again, especially on the night when he received the trophy for defensive player of the year honor. The Wizards were unable to keep Noah from providing his usual hustle and playmaking, and Noah was also effective slashing to the basket for layups. Noah finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, forcing Wittman to rely on Trevor Booker instead the ineffective Marcin Gortat to finish the game.
The Wizards pulled out the win despite missing 12 free throws.