18, 624 fans packed into the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts on Saturday night for game seven of the best first-round series in NBA history.

The Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls, having already been through a record-setting seven overtimes, game one stolen by the Bulls behind Derek Rose’s 36 points, a 51-point (nine 3’s) performance by Ray Allen negated in a triple overtime loss, and 10 technical fouls later, were back to were they started on April 18th, all square.

A 29-11 beat-down in the second quarter gave the defending champions a 39-52 lead, and Boston only one half away from winning another intense first-round game seven matchup in the NBA Playoffs.

The young, “Baby Bulls,” did show that they definitely grew up during the series, cut the Celtics’ lead to only six, and possibly foreshadowed another overtime to add to the story-line.

It would not happen. Clutch free-throw shooting and tight defense put to rest the Bulls’ chance on ending the defending champion’s title defense in the first round.

The usual stars of the series came to perform one more time. Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen combined for 50 of Boston’s 109 points. Rondo again had another fantastic all-around game.

He only went 2-of-8 from the field and finished with 7 points (24ppg in series), but his five rebounds and 11 assists echoed his contributions in the first six games. In all, he had two triple-doubles in the series, had two double-doubles, and nearly missed adding...

If you like the month of March and basketball, then the Sweet Sixteen matchup between the No. 3 seed Villanova and the No. 2 should have you grinning from ear to ear after the first half

The Villanova Wildcats (28-7) showed the Duke Blue Devils (30-6) what Big East defense is all about. Villanova held the Blue Devils to just 23 points. Duke just shot 28% from the field, including 2-of-11 from 3-point range. The Wildcats also were +6 in rebounds, including five offensive rebounds to Duke’s two.

Villanova, perhaps fatigued from the hard defensive play, shot almost as bad as Duke and could only put 26 points on the scoreboard.
Dwayne Anderson of Villanova leads all scorers with eight points. Duke’s Jon Scheyer has seven points, but only went 1-of-5 from 3-point range.

The first-half only had one lead change. Duke threw the first punch and scored the game’s first five points. Villanova rebounded quickly and got the only lead change of the half by going on 7-0 scoring run off their run on a Scottie Reynolds 3-pointer.

Villanova’s biggest lead was just five points and it came with 6:42 left on a layup by Reggie Redding making the score 21-16 Villanova.

If Duke wants to make it to the elite-eight they must shoot the three ball better than their 18% in the first. It will not be easy and if Villanova keeps defending the outside shot and dominating the rebounds, another title for Coach K will have to...