Game 7 of Bulls-Celtics supplants Game 6 as most-watched first-round NBA playoff game on cable

May 5th, 2009 Celtics' Powe has successful surgeryBOSTON — Boston Celtics forward Leon Powe has undergone successful surgery for a microfracture and torn ligaments in his left knee. The team announced that team physician Dr.

May 5th, 2009 Magic take opener from Boston 95-90BOSTON — Dwight Howard returned from his one-game suspension to get 16 points and 22 rebounds Monday night and help the Orlando Magic hold off the late-charging Boston Celtics 95-90 in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Magic opened a 28-point lead early in the second half before Boston cut the deficit to 91-87 in the final 2 minutes.

May 5th, 2009 Howard leads Magic to 95-90 win over CelticsBOSTON — Dwight Howard returned from his one-game suspension to get 16 points and 22 rebounds Monday night and help the Orlando Magic hold off the late-charging Boston Celtics 95-90 in the opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Magic opened a 28-point lead early in the second half before Boston cut the deficit to 91-87 in the final 2 minutes.

May 3rd, 2009 OT hold-down: Celtics top Bulls in regulationBOSTON — After a record-setting seven overtimes in the first six games, the Celtics made an early night of it with a dominating stretch in the second. That's second quarter, not second OT.

May 3rd, 2009 No OT: Celtics top Bulls 109-99 to win Game 7BOSTON — After a record-setting seven overtimes in the first six games, the Celtics made an early night of it with a dominating stretch in the second. That's second quarter, not second OT.

May 1st, 2009 Bulls beat Celtics in 3 OTs, force Game 7CHICAGO — One more thriller, and now, the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics will play a decisive seventh game. Derrick Rose scored 28 points and blocked Rajon Rondo's potential game-winner, John Salmons scored 35, and the Bulls beat the defending champions 128-127 in triple overtime Thursday night to tie the first-round series at three games apiece.

May 1st, 2009 Celtics-Bulls thriller sets cable viewers recordATLANTA — The triple-overtime thriller between the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics is the most-watched first-round game on cable TV. TNT says the Bulls' 128-127 victory Thursday in Game 6 was seen by 5.35 million viewers.

May 1st, 2009 Bulls top Celtics 128-127 in 3 OTs to force Game 7CHICAGO — Derrick Rose scored 28 points and blocked Rajon Rondo's potential game-winner, John Salmons scored 35, and the Chicago Bulls beat the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 128-127 in triple overtime Thursday night to even the first-round series. Leading by eight after an 18-point run in the fourth quarter, the Boston Celtics looked like they were finally ready to move past the Chicago Bulls.

May 1st, 2009 Rondo throws elbow at Hinrich, stays inCHICAGO — Already embroiled in controversy, Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo threw an elbow at the Chicago Bulls' Kirk Hinrich late in the first quarter Thursday but was not ejected from the first-round playoff game. Trying to avoid elimination in Game 6, Chicago was leading 34-25 when Derrick Rose rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Boston's Stephon Marbury with 30 seconds left.

April 29th, 2009 Rondo, Perkins, Pierce Big enough 3 for CelticsBOSTON — Paul Pierce made three straight jumpers in the final 77 seconds of overtime and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Chicago Bulls 106-104 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. Rajon Rondo scored 28 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Kendrick Perkins had 16 points, 19 rebounds and seven blocks for the Celtics.

April 29th, 2009 Rondo, Perkins, Pierce lead Celtics past BullsBOSTON — Paul Pierce made three straight jumpers in the final 77 seconds of overtime and the Boston Celtics held on to beat the Chicago Bulls 106-104 on Tuesday night to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series. Rajon Rondo scored 28 points with 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Kendrick Perkins had 16 points, 19 rebounds and seven blocks for the Celtics.

April 27th, 2009 MRI confirms strained hamstring for Bulls' GordonCHICAGO — Chicago Bulls star Ben Gordon is listed as day-to-day after an MRI confirmed he has a strained left hamstring. Gordon was hurt in the second quarter Sunday, then sent Game 4 into a second overtime with a 3-pointer with 4.5 seconds left.

April 26th, 2009 Gordon, Bulls beat Celtics 121-118 in 2 OTCHICAGO — Another playoff thriller between Chicago and Boston, and this one went to the Bulls. Ben Gordon scored 22 points, hitting the tying 3-pointer in the first overtime, and the Bulls beat the Celtics 121-118 in double overtime Sunday to tie their first-round series at two games apiece.

April 24th, 2009 Pierce, Rondo lead Celtics over Bulls 107-86CHICAGO — Paul Pierce took the initiative this time and the Boston Celtics seized control. Pierce scored 24 points, Rajon Rondo added 20 and the defending champions beat the Chicago Bulls 107-86 on Thursday night to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.

April 23rd, 2009 Okur out for Game 3SALT LAKE CITY — Utah center Mehmet Okur will miss Game 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers with a hamstring injury that has kept him from playing in the first-round playoff series. The Jazz say Okur did not participate in the team shootaround Thursday morning and would not play later when the Jazz host the Lakers, who lead the best-of-7 series 2-0.