Bulls vs. Celtics: 2011 First Round Game 3

Lore & Background

The rivalry heated up again when Cleveland picked LeBron James with the first selection in 2003. In 2011, Bleacher Report named the Bulls as the Cavaliers' 'Greatest Rivalry.' The NBA called it 'one of the great NBA rivalries.'

In Their Own Story

The air inside the TD Garden turned suffocating as the fourth quarter clock ticked down. The Celtics' vaunted defense, usually a fortress of veteran grit, finally cracked under the relentless assault. Derrick Rose, drenched in sweat but eyes locked on the rim, drove through a gauntlet of bodies with terrifying speed. He rose for a pull-up at the elbow—a move that had become his signature—watching the ball arc perfectly before swishing nothing but net. That was number 46. The roar from the Chicago bench wasn't just noise; it was the sound of a dynasty shifting, as the game's momentum swung irrevocably south, leaving Boston stunned and silent.

Reader's Guide

The Michael Jordan era saw the Bulls win playoff series in 1988, 1989 (The Shot), 1992, 1993, and 1994. The LeBron James era saw the Cavaliers win their first ever series against Chicago in 2010, and again in 2015. After LeBron left for the Lakers, both teams entered rebuilding stages.

Did You Know?

• Michael Jordan scored a career-high 69 points against the Cavaliers on March 28, 1990.
• The Shot was hit by Jordan over Craig Ehlo in Game 5 of the 1989 First Round.
• Donovan Mitchell scored 71 points against the Bulls on January 2, 2023.
• The Bulls and Cavaliers agreed to a trade on July 6, 2025, sending Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro.