NBA Playoffs 2014, Bulls vs. Wizards final score: Chicago avoids 3-0 hole with 100-97 win

The Chicago Bulls knew they couldn’t go down three games to none in their playoff series with the Washington Wizards, and thanks in part to Mike Dunleavy and Jimmy Butler, they walked out of the Verizon Center with a 100-97 win.

Dunleavy led all scorers with 35 points, and was a catalyst for Chicago in the second half of the game going 8-10 from three-point range for the game. Butler added 15 points, and drained a three with less than 25 seconds remaining to put Chicago up by three, and was involved in scuffle that saw Wizards center Nene get ejected.

John Wall and Bradley Beal combined for 58 of Washington’s 97 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome in the foul-and-free throw final seconds of the game that saw Chicago keep hope alive.

The Wizards seemingly had a last-ditch chance on a missed free throw by Taj Gibson, but Wall couldn’t handle the pass after the rebound from Trevor Ariza, and the ball was turned over to Chicago when it went out of bounds with just .03 remaining in the game.

The series will now go to a game 4 at the Verizon Center, with Chicago trailing Washington 2-1 in the best of seven NBA Playoffs series.