The Chicago Bulls on Monday night ended Philadelphia Sixers' eight-game winning streak with a thrilling 109-105 victory in double overtime. DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points to shine for the Bulls.
The red-hot Sixers had been looking to clinch their playoff ticket with victory in front of an expectant home crowd at the Wells Fargo Center. But they were left waiting to reach the postseason after a gritty road win from Chicago.
This despite a 37-point performance from Joel Embiid -- the MVP front-runner's 10th straight 30-point game.
Embiid missed an attempted tip-in after Tyrese Maxey's attempted three-pointer at the end of regulation which would have snatched victory for the Sixers.
Embiid put Philadelphia 99-97 ahead in the final minute of the first period of overtime but DeRozan levelled with a driving layup.
The Chicago star missed an attempted three-pointer with less than two seconds on the clock, to take the game to a second period of overtime.
The Sixers looked to have taken a grip on the contest after opening up a 105-101 lead in the second overtime period, but with Embiid absent after fouling out, the Bulls reeled off eight unanswered points to close out the win.
It was the first time in 12 career meetings against Chicago that Embiid has finished on the losing side.
DeRozan admitted that he was aware of that statistic prior to the game.
"I knew that," DeRozan told reporters. "It was only a matter of time. Not saying that was part of the motivation. We've got a bigger goal than just trying to beat him. But I'm glad we got the win."
Chicago improved to 34-37 and remained in 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings, leaving them on course for a place in the play-in tournament for teams ranked between seventh and 10th, which determine the last two spots in the eight-team conference playoffs.
Philadelphia, third in the East with a 48-23 record, remain one win away from formally clinching their playoff spot.
(With inputs from AFP)
