Bulls-eye: Sixers making it a series

No one is going to throw a pity party for the Derrick Rose-less Bulls.

The NBA isn’t going to cancel the playoffs. Rose’s shredded knee isn’t going to miraculously heal. And, as the Sixers showed in their impressive Game 2 win, they’re not going to take it easy on anyone.

“It’s unfortunate, but we expect to play like this every game, whether Derrick is there or not.” Jrue Holiday said. “We want to come out and push, just like we did.”

With the series now tied, at 1-1, and shifting back to Philadelphia for Friday night’s Game 3 (8 p.m.), we’re suddenly looking at a tightly-contested battle.

“I told our guys we have a great opportunity. We have to take advantage of this,” Sixers coach Doug Collins said.

The oddsmakers agree with Collins. Before the series, the Sixers were 14-1 underdogs to advance. Heading into Game 2, they were 6-1 dogs. And now, after evening the series, they are at a mere 3-2 — nearly an even proposition to win the series.

Game 3 » Bulls at Sixers

When » Friday, 8 p.m.

Line » Sixers by 1.5

Injury note » Andre Iguodala is dealing with some soreness in his right Achilles’ tendon. It’s the same injury that cost him a couple games in late March, but the defensive stopper is fully expected to play Friday. He’ll be charged with stopping Luol Deng again.