Part I: The 2012 Philadelphia 76ers Playoff Run

Game 1

Nov 16, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls point guard

(1) on the bench during the second half against the Indiana Pacers at the United Center. Chicago won 110-94. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

In Game 1 of the opening round series the Bulls were fueled by a thriving confidence. After defeating the Sixers in two of three games during the regular season, it seemed as if the opening series against the Sixers would be a walk in the park.

Early on it was not Rose that the Sixers had trouble containing but veteran shooting guard Richard Hamilton, who started the game 6-of-7 from the field. The Sixers looked lost on defense, especially late in the fourth when Derrick Rose hit a three from deep and put the Bulls up by twenty. The scoreboard read 93-73 after a Doug Collins timeout. Quite frankly, it seemed that the 76ers playoff hopes were about to be bull rushed right out of the building. This is, until a shocking turn of events that took place with just under two minutes left in the fourth quarter.

While penetrating the basket in a game that Chicago had already won, Bulls guard  Derrick Rose suffered a devastating knee injury and as hopeless Bulls fans watched, he had to be helped off the court and into the locker room. The Sixers would go on to lose Game 1 by a final score of 103-91 as Elton Brand lead the team in scoring with 19 points and seven rebounds. Derrick Rose finished with 23 points and nine rebounds and nine assists, but that would be the end of his participation in the series.