Bulls finally able to seal the ordeal

CHICAGO — The Eastern Conference playoff series between Chicago and Boston has changed time zones and blood pressures, featured stunning individual performances and selfless team play and traveled through six indescribable games to lead to one fitting conclusion:

Game 7.

Win or go home. Put up or shut up. Any cliche fits for a series that has been anything but.

The Bulls forced this scintillating scenario with -- and this is not a typo -- a triple-overtime thriller, a 128-127, adjective-exhausting victory over the Celtics in front of an eardrum-affecting crowd of 23,430 at the United Center.

These teams already had established an NBA record for most overtime games and now have played four. What’s next, rock-paper-scissors to decide Game 7?

“As tired as I am,” John Salmons said with a sigh, “I won’t be able to sleep.”

Joakim Noah’s steal, full-court drive, dunk and three-point play that fouled out Paul Pierce with 35.5 seconds left will live in Bulls history forever.

It pushed the Bulls ahead, 126-123, and they hung on despite Kirk Hinrich’s missing an open layup with 21.9 seconds left and Derrick Rose’s missing two free throws with 3.2 seconds left after he blocked Rajon Rondo’s shot.

“I don’t even remember what happened,” Noah said. “I’m too happy to remember.” Salmons’ 35 points, Rose’s 28 points and Brad Miller’s 23 points and 10 rebounds will be pleasing memories for Bulls fans for a long time.

Miller exacted some revenge for missing needed free throws in Game 5’s overtime by sinking two free throws with 28.3 seconds left after Eddie House had made a jumper and just before Rondo tipped home his own miss.

Rondo’s 42-foot desperation shot after Rose’s missed free throws never came close.

“Guys have taken their turns on this team,” Miller said. “Everybody on this team has made crucial plays at crucial times. That’s what makes it so fun.” Salmons scored the Bulls’ first seven points in the second overtime, including a driving layup with 2 minutes left to make it 116-113. Neither team scored again until Ray Allen, who had 51 points, swished a long rainbow jumper over Noah with 20 seconds left.

The Celtics thought they had tied it, but Allen’s toes were on the line. Miller made two free throws with 16.9 seconds left. But Allen got his feet behind the line and sank a three-pointer over Kirk Hinrich with 7.6 seconds left.

In the first overtime, Glen Davis made a shot clock-beating jumper over Hinrich with 40.1 seconds left. But Salmons drove and scored on a hanging shot with 23.5 seconds left.

Pierce’s shot over a swarm of Bulls at the buzzer drew air.

“I really think the pressure is on them for Game 7,” Bulls Coach Vinny Del Negro said.

Salmons scored 16 points as the Bulls led by as many as 13 in a first quarter marred by a tussle between Rondo and Hinrich. But Allen scored 20 second-quarter points.

When Miller scored on a three-point play and Tyrus Thomas followed with a screaming dunk off a Salmons feed, the Bulls led 88-76 in the fourth quarter and delirium reigned.

Instead, the Celtics showed why they reign as champions, tearing off a potentially crippling 23-3 run.

With the Bulls trailing, 99-91, with 3:35 left, Rose stopped the bleeding with a jumper -- and started a 10-2 run to tie it.

“Take all these shots and you have a whole season of the NBA’s ‘Where Amazing Happens’ commercials,” Miller said. “I’m just glad to be a part of it.” He’s not the only one.

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kcjohnson@tribune.com