The Miami Heat swept the Bobcats last night to become the first NBA playoff team to advance to the second round. Before the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards tipped-off their first-round series, nobody would’ve guessed the Wizards would be on the verge of being the second team to move on. But here they are, facing Game 5 tonight in Chicago with a 3-1 series lead and the chance to show their regular season advantage over the Bulls wasn’t a fluke. You can watch Wizards vs Bulls Game 5 live online streaming using any number of services.
The Wizards had the Chicago Bulls’ number during the regular season, winning two of the teams’ three games by an average of 8.5 points. It wasn’t just the absence of point guard Derrick Rose, who missed all three games against the Wizards this season. In fact it had more to do with their budding backcourt and new presence down low courtesy of center Marcin Gortat.
Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah was a beast in the regular season, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors last week. Noah’s performed well in the Bulls’ first-round series against the Wizards as well, but his stats have dropped from the regular season. Through five games, Noah’s stats have gone from 12.6 points, 1.2 steals and 1.5 blocks per game entering the NBA Playoffs to 11.5 points, 0.8 steals and 1.0 blocks per game against the Wizards. A full season of carrying both the offensive and defensive loads is clearly wearing on him.
And part of that is his first-round battle with the Wizards’ Gortat. Gortat helped the Wizards win 44 games alongside John Wall and Bradley Beal, with the threesome guiding the Wizards to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. For the series Gortat is averaging 13 points and 8.8 rebounds per game to go with his 1.8 blocks per game against the Bulls. With Gortat in the middle surrounded by Wall and Beal, and the Wizards have found their groove.
Beal took control in Game 2 against the Chicago Bulls with 26 points and seven rebounds in the Wizards’ overtime win and hasn’t looked back. In tonight’s Bulls game Beal and Co. aren’t likely to be looking anywhere but forward, as the Wizards look to advance past the first round of the NBA playoffs for only the third time since the 1970s.
If you can’t watch tonight’s Bulls game live on TNT, NBA fans who subscribe to that channel as part of their cable or satellite package can watch NBA games online free via TNT’s live-streaming TNT Overtime service. You can also download the TNT Watch Live app for your tablet or mobile device to watch tonight’s Wizards – Bulls game. In addition, the TNT website often has live streaming NBA games, and they’re likely to do the same in you’re looking to watch Wizards vs Bulls Game 5 live online. Tipoff for tonight’s Bulls – Wizards Game 5 is scheduled for 8pm EST / 5pm PST.