Air Jordan, Bulls Deal C's Home Loss

March 7, 1985

You were probably roasting chestnuts on an open fire when the Chicago Bulls last won a road game.

Air Jordan's Flying Circus hadn't won away from O'Hare since Dec. 20, 1984, but snapped a 12-game road losing streak with a 107-104 victory over the Celtics last night in Boston Garden.

The loss chopped Boston's Atlantic Division lead over Philadelphia to 1 1/2 games, and marked the second time in six days that a team with a woeful road record won in Boston (Atlanta beat the Celtics Friday night).



"It bothers me that teams are beating us that shouldn't be beating us," said Larry Bird. "Sometimes, we take things a little too easy. Tonight, we should have won this game."

The Celtics almost tied it at the finish, but Danny Ainge's 60-foot desperation heave looped off the inside of the rim and came out at the buzzer.

It looked like a laugher at the start. The Celtics hit 13 of their first 19 shots and enjoyed an early 11-4 rebounding edge.

Boston led by 14 (61-47) late in the first half, but the trapeze team of Jordan (33 points) and Orlando Woolridge (29) led a 10-2 closing run, and it was a six-point game at the half.

The Celtics made only two field goals (on 11 attempts) in the first 7:52 of the third quarter, and one of those was courtesy of a goaltending violation. Meanwhile, the immortal Dave Corzine and Co. ran off eight straight for a 75-67 lead. The weary Celtics tied their season low with 13 points (5 of 19, 26 percent) in the quarter, and had to dig out of a five-point hole at the end of three.

Robert Parish (26 points, 13 rebounds) and Bird (25 points, 10 assists, 9 rebounds, 6 turnovers) led the Celtics back in the fourth, and Boston tied it at 96-96 when Dennis Johnson blocked a Jordan shot and canned a foul-line jumper at the other end with 3:21 left.

Four free throws by Woolridge gave Chicago a four-pont lead, but Parish answered with three for Boston and Chicago led, 100-99, with 1:39 left.

Jordan immediately went baseline past DJ for two, and it was 102-99. Then DJ traveled and Chicago had a three-point lead and the ball with less than a minute to go.

Ennis Whatley missed a shot, was tagged with an offensive foul, and the Celtics got the ball back with 46 seconds left. Parish was fouled on a third shot attempt, and sank both to cut it to 102-101 with 34 seconds left.

Jordan (surprise) took charge, killed some seconds, then drove from out top and was fouled by Ainge. Jordan made both, and it was 104-101 with 16 seconds left.

"I thought that was the turning point," said Ainge. "I came away with the ball clean in my opinion, but they called a foul on me."

Bird (surprise) took a three-point shot, but it hit the front rim, bounded off the board and into Jordan's hands. He was fouled with eight seconds left and made both: 106-101. With 0:03 showing, DJ canned a three-pointer to cut it to 106-104.

Greenwood threw an inbound pass to Woolridge, who was fouled by Bird before any time elapsed. The first one went in: 107-104. The second one clanked off the rim and was caught by Ainge. Knowing the Celtics were out of timeouts, Ainge dribbled and heaved the 60-footer. It almost went in. "I didn't see any options, so I let it fly," said Ainge.