MILWAUKEE — Having squandered two opportunities to close down their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series, the Chicago Bulls wasted little time Thursday night and crushed the Milwaukee Bucks 120-66 in front of a stunned sellout crowd of 18,717 at the Bradley Center.
The Game 6 margin was the largest ever in an NBA playoff-series clincher, and it was the fourth-largest in postseason history.
Chicago was in complete control from the opening tip. The Bulls led by as many as 18 in the first quarter, 32 at halftime and 40 early in the third quarter.
The Bulls shot 51.1 percent from the field, made 13 of 50 from beyond the arc and scored 23 points off 18 Milwaukee turnovers, setting a franchise record for largest postseason margin of victory.
Forward Mike Dunleavy led the Bulls with 20 points and forward Pau Gasol added 19.
Center Zaza Pachulia scored eight points to lead Milwaukee, which was riding high after a double-overtime near-miss in Game 3 and a surprising road victory in Game 5. But they came out flat Thursday night.
While the Bulls shot the lights out, the Bucks hit 39 percent from the field in the first quarter and had only 33 points at halftime, one short of the franchise playoff low for a half.
The 54-point loss was the worst in franchise history.
NHL
Capitals 2, Rangers 1
NEW YORK — Right winger Joel Ward scored with 1.3 seconds remaining in the third period to give the Washington Capitals a 2-1 victory against the New York Rangers in Game 1 of their second-round series at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.
Left winger Alex Ovechkin made the play happen, as he centered the puck from behind the net to an open Ward, who beat Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist along the ice for the winner.
Ovechkin also scored for the Capitals while goaltender Braden Holtby made 31 saves.
Right winger Jesper Fast scored for the Rangers, who received 27 saves from goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.
The Capitals lead the best-of-seven series 1-0 with Game 2 scheduled for Saturday afternoon at MSG.
Ovechkin scored the game’s first goal during a power play late in the first period, and it was a jaw-dropper.
It looked like a harmless zone entry along the left wing by the Russian sniper, but it turned into something more. Using Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle as a screen, Ovechkin launched a wrist shot from the top of the face-off circle that beat Lundqvist high to the stick side to put the Capitals ahead 1-0.
The puck was in and out of the net so quickly some fans weren’t sure it was a goal.
Ovechkin nearly made it 2-0 early in the second period as his wrist shot beat Lundqvist to the catching-glove side, but it rang off the crossbar.
Fast tied the game at 1 with 4:39 remaining in the third period after extended pressure in the Capitals zone. Center Kevin Hayes whipped the puck toward the net from the blue line, and the puck hit the inside of Fast’s knee and got past a screened Holtby.
NOTES: Capitals coach Barry Trotz said RW Eric Fehr (upper body) could skate with the team Friday. Fehr did not play in Game 1 and has been absent since April 19 when he left Game 3 of the Capitals’ first-round series against the New York Islanders. … The Capitals scratched C Michael Latta and D Dmitry Orlov. … Rangers D Kevin Klein played his first game since March 11 when he suffered a broken arm. Rangers D Matt Hunwick, who replaced Klein, was a healthy scratch.