NEW YORK — Joakim Noah climbed over the baseline seats, his foot that hurt so much two weeks ago that he feared he couldn’t play looking pain-free as he embraced his mother.
The first Game 7 in Brooklyn belonged not to the Nets, but to the guy who played here in high school.
Injured, ill and just as determined as ever, the Chicago Bulls beat the Nets 99-93 on Saturday night to win the first-round series.
Noah had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Marco Belinelli also scored 24 points to help the Bulls advance to a second-round series against defending champion Miami that starts Monday.
Carlos Boozer added 17 points as the Bulls shook off injuries to two starters and every run the Nets tried to make in the second half to win a Game 7 on the road for the first time in franchise history.
The Bulls opened a 17-point halftime lead with a rare offensive outburst, and they found a way to get big baskets every time the Nets pulled close to win the NBA’s only do-or-die game of the first round.
Deron Williams had 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Nets.
Bulls 99, Nets 93
CHICAGO (99)
Butler 3-10 2-2 9, Boozer 6-13 5-6 17, Noah 12-17 0-0 24, Robinson 5-14 0-0 12, Belinelli 8-14 5-5 24, Gibson 2-5 0-0 4, Teague 2-5 0-0 4, Mohammed 1-2 0-0 2, Cook 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 40-82 12-13 99.
BROOKLYN (93)
Wallace 8-16 0-0 19, Evans 0-0 2-2 2, Lopez 9-20 3-3 21, Williams 8-17 4-6 24, Johnson 2-14 1-1 6, Blatche 3-6 3-3 9, Brooks 2-2 0-0 4, Humphries 1-5 1-4 3, Watson 2-6 1-1 5. Totals 35-86 15-20 93.
Chicago 29 32 21 17 — 99
Brooklyn 25 19 31 18 — 93
3-Point Goals—Chicago 7-21 (Belinelli 3-6, Robinson 2-7, Cook 1-2, Butler 1-4, Teague 0-2), Brooklyn 8-25 (Williams 4-8, Wallace 3-8, Johnson 1-9). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Chicago 48 (Noah 14), Brooklyn 51 (Evans 13). Assists—Chicago 20 (Butler, Robinson 4), Brooklyn 21 (Williams 7). Total Fouls—Chicago 14, Brooklyn 16. Technicals—Chicago defensive three second 2. A—17,732 (17,732).
