BOX SCORE
CHICAGO - The Sixers had kept a stoic way about themselves the two days in between losing Game 1 to Chicago and playing Game 2 against a Derrick Rose-less Bulls team.
They said Chicago had proven it was a good team without the reigning MVP, but deep down the Sixers had to feel their chances of stealing Game 2 improved with Rose sidelined.
Not only were their chances improved, the Sixers took advantage of them. The Sixers defeated the Bulls 109-92 to even the series at one game apiece.
Doug Collins moved Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes back into the starting lineup and Turner thrived, scoring 19 points, grabbing seven rebounds and handing out six assists.
Hawes got in early foul trouble and was mostly ineffective with two points and three rebounds in 18 minutes. Lavoy Allen was strong in the backup center role with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Lou Williams, who had just one made field goal in Game 1, connected on 8 of 13 shots for 20 points in Game 2 with 13 of those points coming in the fourth quarter.
The Sixers won the rebounding battle 38-32 and cut Chicagos second-chance points from 20 on Saturday to nine in Game 2.
The Bulls made 11 of their last 12 field goal attempts in the second quarter to lead 55-47 at the half. It certainly wasnt the tempo the Sixers wanted because Chicago is undefeated this season when scoring 100 or more points.
Turning pointThe Sixers defense in the third quarter was excellent. After allowing Chicago to shoot 49 percent in the first half, the Sixers put the clamps on the Bulls, holding them to 25 percent shooting in the first 12 minutes of the second half and out-rebounding them in the third quarter, 14-5.
Follow the leaderJrue Holiday made his first six shots for 14 points in his first 15 minutes. He led all scorers at the half with 17 points. Holiday finished with 26 points and he also had six assists.
Joakim was amazing making all seven of his field goal attempts in the first half for 14 points to lead the Bulls. He led Chicago in scoring with 21 for the game. His first field goal of the second half did not come until there was four minutes left in the game.
John Lucas came off the bench and scored 11 first-half points for the Bulls. He is a capable scorer, shooting 40 percent on the year and 39 percent from long range. The Sixers held Lucas to two points in the second half.
Stat-egicThe Sixers showed tremendous composure after falling behind eight points at the half. They proceeded to outscore the Bulls 36-14 in the third quarter to take a 14-point lead heading into the final period.
The Sixers defense held the Bulls to 5 of 20 from the floor in the third, while they converted 68 percent of their field goals (15 for 22).
Take a bowDerrick Rose, who has not spoken to the media since tearing his ACL with 1:20 to play in Game 1 of this series, walked out to center court before the opening tip to present the game ball. Rose was wearing his black Bulls sweatshirt with a full-length brace on his left leg. Understandably, Rose had a depressed look on his face.
Rose did not stay seated on the bench and instead went to a spot in the press box with his mother.
The crowd gave him a standing ovation, but the emotion and energy that had been so anticipated was not there. The crowds demeanor was comparable to the wind being taken out of a sail as that Chicago championship run has definitely been altered, if not derailed.
Whats next?The Sixers and Bulls will have another two days off before playing Game 3 on Friday in Philadelphia.
E-mail Dei Lynam at dlynam@comcastsportsnet.com.