Bulls Get Lucky Win

Depending on what side of the win you are on, a buzzer beater in basketball can be one of the most exhilarating or deflating things that can happen in sports. Larry Hughes, despite having played hoops for at least fifteen years, has never hit a game winning shot as time expired. Last night, he broke that streak as he hit the game winner that put the Bulls over the Jazz, 101-100.

The Bulls led by as many as six in the fourth quarter but came close to blowing the game, as they had the night before in Denver. The Jazz went on a run to tie up the game with less than four minutes left. The lead continued to change hands until C.J Miles hit a layup to put the Jazz ahead 100-99 with 11 seconds left. Derrick Rose missed a jump shot, and Hughes grabbed the rebound. Then he launched a 22-footer that went in as the buzzer went off.

"I never hit a walk-off shot before," Hughes said. "I've never hit a shot with no time on the clock. I've hit game-winners before, but never something like this, where the other team didn't have a chance."

Hughes finished the game 16 points and 5 rebounds. Rose had another spectacular game with 25 points and 9 assists. His play is one of the major reasons why the Bulls have won two games on the west coast trip. Mehmet Okur led the way for the Jazz, scoring 26 points.

Some would call this a lucky win. The Jazz were playing without Carlos Boozer or Deron Williams and the Bulls always have trouble against teams with effective big men like Boozer. Hughes' last-second shot was lucky. Derrick Rose was on the good end of a questionable call from the referees. That all may be true, but the Bulls were in need of some luck. After yesterday's collapse, injuries that have kept Luol Deng and Hughes out of the starting line-up over the course of the season, and Kirk Hinrich being knocked out for three months, the Bulls will take the win, even if it was lucky.