Derrick Rose & Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics game 2 round 1 2009 NBA Playoffs

BOSTON(AP) Ray Allen landed the final blow in a memorable duel with Ben Gordon on Monday night, shooting the Boston Celtics back into their first-round series.

Allen made a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2 seconds left and finished with 30 points, leading the Celtics a 118-115 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Gordon nearly carried Chicago to a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. He scored with 12.3 seconds left to tie it, the final hoop of his playoff career-high 42 points. Then Boston set up a play for Allen, who took a pass from Rajon Rondo and connected from the right side.

Allen scored 28 points after getting some advice from coach Doc Rivers at halftime.

"Doc said going into the half, 'Be aggressive, but let it come to you,''' Allen said. "I never think I'm not in my rhythm. It can be a grind as a shooter. As a scorer you're always trying to find something.''

Allen and Gordon each had several clutch baskets in the second half as the former University of Connecticut guards battled for control of the game. After Tyrus Thomas missed a shot from midcourt as time expired, Allen headed for his bench where injured Kevin Garnett delivered a couple of congratulatory slaps - to his head and chest.

Allen said he doesn't like "being made a fuss over.'' But that was unavoidable after he broke out of his shooting slump. He scored just four points on 1-for-12 shooting and missed the final shot in Chicago's 105-103 overtime win Saturday.

"It felt like we were at UConn in the summertime playing pickup,'' Gordon said. "He is a great shooter and I knew he would break out eventually.''

The next two games of the series are scheduled for Chicago on Thursday night and Sunday.

"We feel very confident because we feel like we haven't even played good basketball yet,'' Boston's Paul Pierce said. "Our best is yet to come.''

The Bulls showed they could compete with the Celtics, who could be without Garnett (strained right knee) for the rest of the playoffs.

"We got a split and that's tough to do against the defending champs,'' Gordon said.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Gordon gave the Bulls a 109-104 lead before the Celtics rallied. Glen Davis made two free throws and Rondo connected on a long jumper to give Boston a 112-111 lead with 1:01 to play.

Gordon followed with a 16-foot jumper and Allen countered with a 3-pointer that put Boston ahead 115-113 with 25.3 seconds remaining.

Then it was Gordon's turn. He connected from near the foul line before the Celtics called a timeout to set up their final play.

Rondo dribbled on the left side and Allen worked himself free, caught the pass in rhythm and converted as the crowd went wild.

On his way to the locker room after Thomas missed the last shot for Chicago, Rivers shouted, "yeah, yeah,'' pumped his fist and exchanged high-fives with fans. Then, headed to his postgame news conference, Rivers joked, "nice and easy, never a doubt.''

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Eastern Conference
Cleveland Cavaliers (cavs) vs. Detroit Pistons
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Orlando Magic vs. Philadelphia 76ers (sixers)
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Los Angeles Lakers (L.A.) vs Utah Jazz
Denver Nuggets vs. New Orleans Hornets
San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavs (mavericks)
Portland Trailblazers (blazers) vs. Houston Rockets

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[34284621]

type "short guy dunks" in the youtube search box to see a 5ft 5in guy dunking a 10ft hoop

[falkner23]

are u kidding me, rose is the reason chicago was there in the first place bruh. no rose no playoffs

[celticszak]

ben gordon with 42 points damn he was BEAST and it was playoffs im a celtic fan but damn!

[CrazyBlackman108]

Perkins... I wish you tell Rose that now. MV who.. Envy what, oh yeah MVP!

[Sugar20Ray]

THREE POINT CONTEST........

[Rahzan972]

three point battle

[SK8Azza]

@411batgirlgo9 james is the one thats overrated

[skdakd]

@411batgirlgo9 They are both overrated man

[cicirunner]

@cubsfan104 Before the D. Rose draft, Ben Gordon was the best player on the Bulls; Not Deng!!!! Ben Gordon scored 20 plus a night.

[411batgirlgo9]

rose is overrated. james is better