The Chicago Bulls played the role of the Grinch during a Christmas Day showdown with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2011 as Derrick Rose canned a floater with 4.8 seconds to go before Luol Deng blocked Kobe Bryant’s potential game-winner in a thrilling 88-87 victory.
An instant classic
In a game that NBA.com listed as one of the most memorable Christmas Day moments of all time, the Bulls rallied from an 11-point deficit in the last 3:44 of the game. Leading the charge was none other than Rose. After Deng's steal, Rose sized up his defender, and skillfully drove to the rim. With finesse, he executed a difficult floater, soaring above the defense of Luol Deng and Derek Fisher, securing an 88-87 lead.
Rose finished that game with 22 points. However, after the game, he deflected all the credit to his teammates.
"If it weren't for my teammates, making the steal, and getting the ball to me at the end, there's no way I could have gotten that shot off to help us win that game," Rose said.
Critical stop
Rose’s heroics would have gotten spoiled had Kobe gotten his way. With 4.8 seconds left, there was an eternity of basketball left for Kobe to break the Bulls’ hearts. But Deng had other plans. He perfectly anticipated Kobe’s move to his right and with ample help from big men Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah, blocked his shot attempt.
"We just played harder. We stepped up our intensity on the defensive end. Throughout the whole game, our defense wasn't there. I mean, we showed spots of it, but we didn't keep it consistent. Then, at the end, we played defense," Deng said.
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