NBA Playoffs: Good News, Bad News For Bulls; Chicago Wins Opener, Loses Derrick Rose For Season; Heat, Magic, Thunder Take Series Openers

The National Basketball Association Playoffs commenced on Saturday with four games.


EASTERN CONFERENCE:


At Chicago:


Derrick Rose scored 23 points while dishing out 9 assists and grabbing 9 rebounds before he suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear in the Chicago Bulls' 103-91 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the opening game of their conference quarterfinal series.


At Miami:


LeBron James scored 32 points on 10 of 14 shooting from the floor as the Miami Heat demolished the visiting New York Knickerbockers 100-67 in the opening contest of their first-round series.


At Indianapolis:


Jason Richardson and Jameer Nelson scored 17 points apiece as the Orlando Magic defeated the home-standing Indiana Pacers 81-77 in the first contest of their opening-round series.


WESTERN CONFERENCE:


At Oklahoma City:


Kevin Durant scored 25 points, two of them on the game-winning jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining as the Oklahoma City Thunder pull out a thrilling 99-98 home win over the Dallas Mavericks in the opening contest of their conference quarterfinal series.