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Daily NBA Fix 4-26-14: Rockets Rescued By … Troy Daniels???

By Phil Watson

Apr 25, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Houston Rockets guard Troy Daniels (30) makes a three point basket over Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) with 12 seconds left in overtime to win game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; Houston Rockets guard Troy Daniels (30) makes a three point basket over Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) with 12 seconds left in overtime to win game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 25, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Nene (42) scuffles with Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) in the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Nene received two technical fouls and was ejected. The Bulls won 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2014; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards forward Nene (42) scuffles with Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) in the fourth quarter in game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Verizon Center. Nene received two technical fouls and was ejected. The Bulls won 100-97. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bulls 100, WASHINGTON WIZARDS 97
Game 3, Eastern Conference First Round
Jimmy Butler drained a go-ahead 3-pointer with 24 seconds left and Mike Dunleavy poured in a playoff career-high 35 points—hitting a franchise-record eight 3-pointers—and the Bulls stayed alive in the series with a huge win in Washington, spoiling the Wizards’ first home playoff game in six years.

The Wizards have bigger questions going forward despite a 2-1 series lead … primarily whether or not they will have Nene for Game 4. He was ejected after he and Butler locked horns in the fourth quarter and could be suspended for grabbing Butler’s head during the confrontation.

Washington led 51-48 at halftime before the Bulls turned up the defense in the third quarter, holding the Wizards to 18 points on 8-of-22 shooting while opening a 72-69 lead.

The biggest change from the opening two games in Chicago was the effectiveness of Nene, who scored just 10 points on 5-of-15 shooting after torching the Bulls for 41 points on 19-of-30 shooting in the opening two games.

Butler had 15 points for the Bulls. Bradley Beal paced the Wizards with 25 points, John Wall added 23 points and four steals, Trevor Ariza had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Marcin Gortat also logged a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds while also blocking three shots.

Game 4 is Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern.