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00:00Greg, and that's the story. A minute and 35 remaining in the first quarter. A red-hot shooting first quarter for Scottie Pippen. 13 points in all. Michael Jordan sitting down right now receiving a rest, but Pippen 4 of 6 from the field, 3 from downtown.
00:20The Atlanta Hawks off to a slow start, just 5 of 13. Mookie Blalock with 7. Christian Leitner with 4. The Bulls, who came back so strong yesterday afternoon in game number 3 with a 20-point victory, knocking off the Hawks 100-80. Doing it in the second half by the count of 54-28. And, Matt, they have looked impressive once again in this first quarter.
00:46And a big reason, Marv, is they're knocking down their perimeter shots, something they've had problems doing in the first quarters of the previous games. When those shots fall, everything seems to look better.
00:58Randy Brown trying to feed Scottie Pippen, but stolen by Mookie Blalock.
01:07Blalock trying to use the screen from the tumbo.
01:10And Bennett Salvatore calling the foul. Offensive foul on the tumbo. Bennett Salvatore working today's game with Hugh Hollins. Joe DeRosa.
01:23A look of disbelief on the face of Dikembe Mutombo trying to set and reset. Keeps moving around, trying to get a piece of Randy Brown.
01:31And it appeared there that Dikembe Mutombo had finally set himself. But what many times will happen, that guard with the ball will make his move too quickly.
01:40But it appeared that Mutombo was standing still.
01:43Mutombo unhappy after picking up his second foul. Mutombo unhappy after yesterday's game.
01:49Strong statement afterwards. He said his teammates quit.
01:52Johnny Wilkins said that Dikembe may have been a bit overdramatic as Caffey continues his good play.
02:01And the Bulls lead at 28-17. To this point, Dennis Rodman has not played. Played only seven minutes yesterday.
02:10And it was tough for him to remain on the floor. Picked up that technical foul.
02:14Once again, Caffey in the starting lineup.
02:16Here's Pippen leading the break. Kelly with a ball from the wall. Sends it up for Kukoc and he's put it.
02:23Tony Kukoc, who helped turn things around yesterday with a terrific game.
02:29Six of 12 from the field. 16 points.
02:31Well, it was the whole supporting cast for the Chicago Bulls.
02:35It's both Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen having tough shooting days.
02:38Big numbers from Tony Kukoc. Steve Kerr came up with a big three in the fourth quarter.
02:42An outstanding job for Jason Caffey, who started in place of Dennis Rodman,
02:47but did a pretty good imitation with eight of his 11 rebounds at the offensive end.
02:52And Judd Bushler checks in for the first time.
02:55Judd played only nine minutes yesterday. Did not show up in the stat sheet, but did a terrific job off the boards.
03:01Keeping the ball alive on a number of occasions.
03:05We're down to 20 seconds remaining. First quarter.
03:08Smith putting the move on Bushler. And a foul. Bushler used the knee.
03:18Bulls over the limit.
03:20And Smith to the line. He's three of four at the foul line.
03:25Luke Longley has already picked up two fouls. He's on the bench.
03:28The same as you saw for Dikembe Mutombo. He has two.
03:33A high point man, Scottie Pippen with 13 points.
03:37Well, it's six foot eight. Steve Smith, a very good post player.
03:40But that's been taken away a great deal by Scottie Pippen.
03:43Not the most mobile guy on defense. Does not move his feet very well.
03:47So consequently, if you get him out on the open floor, you want to put the ball on the deck and try to beat him to the basket.
03:53The big adjustment that Chicago made yesterday was putting Pippen on Smith to take away his post game and his ability to get the foul line.
04:01And it worked.
04:02That's an unbelievable stat.
04:04Steve Smith with no assists and 128 consecutive minutes and counting.
04:10Doing his Yinka-Dare imitation.
04:15Kukou fursing it up with the shot clock running down.
04:19And he also took a hit.
04:21We're down at two and three tenths seconds remaining in this first quarter.
04:27Alan Henderson, who had just come on, has called for that low bridge foul.
04:34And Kukou, firing from three-point territory, will have three free throws.
04:39Well, you mentioned Steve Smith with no assists.
04:42Actually, during the regular season, Atlanta, 28th in a 2019 win.
04:47In assists, Detroit is dead last at 29.
04:50But the nature of their game is that the guards do most of the shooting.
04:54Here is Tony Kukou in his three games so far, really breaking out yesterday.
05:00Making two big three-pointers in the fourth quarter.
05:03And Kukou, four for four at the line in this first quarter.
05:09What a day in the NBA playoffs.
05:12Earlier, Knicks defeated Miami 77-73 to go up two games to one.
05:18The Knicks came back from 12 down in the second quarter.
05:20And moments ago, as you saw in overtime, was Houston over Seattle.
05:251-10, 1-0-6 on a club shot by the rookie, Matt Maloney.
05:29Three games to one lead for the Houston Rockets.
05:33Final seconds.
05:34Blaylock gets it off from San Diego.
05:39So, after one, it's the Bulls, 33, and the Hawks, 19.
05:46A fast start for Scottie Pippen.
05:49Four of six from the field.
05:5213 points.
05:53There was much concern coming into yesterday's game three as to whether the Bulls were indeed
06:02back.
06:04Well, they demonstrated that they were yesterday with the route.
06:09And they paddled up with a strong first quarter performance.
06:14Michael Jordan finding the range on the jump shot.
06:17That's the play of the day for the Hawks by Dikembe Mutombo.
06:21Well, Scottie Pippen came out with the idea of setting his game up with a perimeter shot.
06:25And it has worked so far.
06:27Mookie Blaylock, who was shut down effectively yesterday by Ron Harper, getting one there.
06:32And a look at the leading scores.
06:37Pippen with 13, Jordan 7.
06:39Blaylock with 7 points.
06:41Mookie Blaylock saying after the game yesterday that he had a number of open shots.
06:46He was very disappointed with his play after the good outings in games 1 and 2.
06:50And felt that he rushed shots.
06:51And that can certainly be said for many members of the Atlanta Hawks.
06:54Well, he said he lost his rhythm and consequently lost his confidence.
06:59And really, the Bulls took them out.
07:01Them being the Atlanta Hawks, took them out of their pick-and-roll game, which was so effective
07:05in the first two games of the series by trapping Blaylock, getting the ball out of his hands.
07:10And Ron Harper deserves a lot of credit there.
07:12And Matt, as you are well aware, as always, we're joined on the sidelines by the dean.
07:17Always an emotional moment to send it to a model shot.
07:21All right, thanks, Mark.
07:22I talked to Michael Jordan.
07:23He said the key yesterday to the win was everybody stepped up.
07:25I asked him to assess his play in the first three games of this series.
07:28And he said he's very proud about his defense and his rebounding, getting 11, 16, and then 9 yesterday.
07:34I said, what about your scoring?
07:35He said, well, I'm not too concerned about my scoring because over the years,
07:38I've found that in order to win a championship, defense is what's important.
07:42Mark?
07:42My thanks about Atlanta shot only 5 of 15 in the first quarter.
07:47The Bulls, 11 of 19.
07:50Good shooting first quarter for Chicago.
07:54Recapping the series.
07:56In game one, the Bulls, 100 to 97.
07:59They came from behind, led by Jordan, 34 points, 11 rebounds.
08:04Bulls did it in the third quarter.
08:06Game two, the Hawks win, 103-95.
08:09Mookie Blalock on fire from three-point range, 8 of 9 from a downtown Atlanta shot, 52% from the field.
08:19And yesterday here at the Omni in game three, the bench did the job.
08:23The supporting cast backing up the starting players and the Bulls with a route,
08:30turning it around in the second half.
08:32Dennis Rodman has checked in for the first time.
08:37Played only seven minutes yesterday.
08:40One for one from the field.
08:42Three rebounds.
08:43And a tactical foul.
08:44Steve Kerr not able to hit as the second quarter gets underway.
08:49And Dennis Rodman playing absolutely no minutes in the second half,
08:52but he was told by Phil Jackson at halftime that he would not play.
08:55Henry James, who has the terrific outside shot.
09:09Henry James, played Phil and Wilkins in Cleveland.
09:12He's had some good moments during the course of the regular season.
09:16And Brian Williams.
09:20Stepped out of bounds.
09:21So the Bulls lead by Leitner, beat the Bulls down court,
09:27but Jordan able to recover and came up with a blocked shot.
09:31Here the reaction fans thought there should have been a foul.
09:34Here's Brian Williams.
09:36And he was fouled.
09:40Foul committed by Henderson.
09:42Well, the Chicago Bulls very slow in transition defense.
09:45That pass from Blalock over the top.
09:47As Leitner had a huge lead,
09:50but Michael Jordan hustling from behind
09:53and hit a lot of ball,
09:55but also, I'm sure, got a lot of body just by the reaction.
09:59Although, Christian Leitner not making that big a fuss.
10:02It's coming more from head coach Lenny Wilkins
10:04and the sold-out crowd here at the Omni.
10:08Brian Williams provided the Bulls with a major lift yesterday.
10:127 of 11, 14 points off the bench.
10:16Michael Jordan and Steve Smith have been chatting with one another
10:20throughout the series.
10:21And Michael, who has been known to like to talk,
10:24has preferred not to talk to Steve Smith.
10:27Instead, trying to concentrate on just playing the game.
10:30Bulls lead by 12.
10:31Lailock and Smith in the backcourt.
10:35Henderson with James and Leitner on the front line.
10:39Smith posting up against Jordan.
10:45Rebound went through the hands of Rodman,
10:47but picked up by Jordan.
10:48Four on two for the Bulls.
10:49Good recovery defensively by Atlanta.
10:54And Dennis Robin ran the floor extremely hard,
10:57just trying to make something happen.
10:59He looks like he wants to get into the flow
11:01and make a contribution.
11:03Kirk.
11:04Rebounded by Jordan.
11:07We have Michael Jordan with nine points.
11:10And the Bulls now lead 36-22.
11:12Chicago hoping to take the series back to the United Center,
11:18up three games to one.
11:20The Hawks try to tie it up at two apiece
11:23with game number five in Chicago on Tuesday night.
11:27Illegal defense against Chicago for the second time,
11:30so it will lead to a technical foul.
11:32Well, Dennis Robin trying to get to the board,
11:35just timing his way off.
11:36No lift there.
11:37Loses it, but does not fret about it,
11:40just running the floor hard.
11:41And with Tikembe Mutombo out of the game,
11:44a lot more opportunities in and around the basket
11:46for second shots.
11:48And that's what got Tikembe up and off the bench
11:50and back into the game.
11:53As Steve Smith shoots the technical for more
11:56on Dennis Robin.
11:57Let's go to Ahmad.
11:58All right, thanks, Marvin.
11:59You'll see over the last few games,
12:01Dennis Robin has worn an assortment of braces.
12:03He's not wearing one today.
12:04I talked to him before the game.
12:05He said for the first time that he feels fine.
12:08And as you can see, he's running very well
12:09and looks a lot better without that brace.
12:12So I think he's coming around on that injury.
12:14Mark?
12:14All right, Ahmad.
12:15Bulls players have been upset with a lack of energy level
12:18that Rodman has told.
12:20That does not seem to be the case to this point today.
12:25Well, a 77-degree day here in Atlanta.
12:29Look at the fountain in Centennial Olympic Park.
12:32Across from the Omni, Marv Albert with Matt Gukas and Ahmad Rashad.
12:37Two minutes gone by in the second quarter.
12:40Game four of the semifinal series between Chicago and Atlanta.
12:45Scottie Pippen leading the way with 13 points.
12:49Michael Jordan with nine.
12:51Dennis Rodman is back on the floor.
12:53Dikembe Mutombo back on the floor,
12:56although he has two fouls.
12:58Bokey Blaylock putting the move on Steve Kerr.
13:01And then Kerr with the steal, but stepped out of bounds.
13:06Well, I should say Christian Leighton are getting a post-up opportunity
13:10waiting for the double team instead of making a quick move.
13:13But Steve Kerr, very active on the weak side,
13:16getting in that passing lane,
13:17but just couldn't control that foot stepping on the line.
13:20Blaylock.
13:20And Michael Jordan going to the board.
13:24That's his fifth rebound.
13:25Here's Brian Williams on the open floor beating Mookie Blaylock.
13:29Now, this has been a problem for the Hawks in a number of the games so far.
13:33When they miss shots, they're kind of hanging their head right now.
13:36Ice cold from the field, just six for 19,
13:38but they can't worry about that to get back to the defense.
13:42And Christian Leighton missed on the slam attempt.
13:45Oh, Brian Williams, a terrific athlete who can get up and down the floor,
13:51has finally gotten into reasonably good shape
13:54after being out all season long with that knee injury
13:57before signing away with Chicago.
13:59Steve Kerr off the lead pass,
14:02and we are seeing the Chicago Bulls
14:04that we saw for the most part during the regular season.
14:08A 17-point lead with three minutes gone by in the second quarter.
14:13And a foul.
14:16Hugh Hollins, the outside official, with the call.
14:19The Hawks, normally a very good defensive team,
14:22have really gotten caught flat-footed, standing straight up,
14:25nobody bending their knees, nobody anticipating,
14:28and I think they're hanging their head
14:29because they're not shooting the ball well.
14:31But the only way they can get back into this game
14:33is dig in defensively, get some run-outs.
14:35I think they're trying to get too many different people scoring opportunities,
14:39whether it's the guards, Smith and Blaylock,
14:41or Mutombo or Leighton at the other end,
14:43and that's too many.
14:44Foul was called on Kerr.
14:45The Hawks have hit only one for the last half.
14:48Kukoc knocked it away,
14:50and a loose ball foul on James,
14:53who tried to get it back.
14:54It's been all Chicago.
14:57Well, you can log on to NBA.com.