2012 NBA Playoffs

Philadelphia, PA

The inspired play of Jrue Holiday, Lou Willliams, and Evan Turner have helped the Philadelphia 76ers take a decisive 2-1 edge in their first-round series against the Chicago Bulls, who are badly missing their star point guard Derrick Rose.

Entering the postseason as a complete underdog against the Eastern Conference powerhouse Bulls, the Sixers suddenly found themselves two victories away from winning a playoff series for the first time since 2003 as they capitalized on Rose's season-ending injury and productive output from their explosive backcourt trio.

With Rose unexpected exit, the Bulls lost a potent scorer and a rock solid defensive player who can smother rival point guards in any given night. They certainly missed him Friday night in falling to Philly 79-74 in a pivotal game 3.

Holiday, Williams and Turner took the opportunity by the horn as the trio are averaging at least 14 points so far after three games.

Holiday, averaging 19.7 points, 5.0 boards and 4.7 dimes in the playoffs, has exploited the absence of Rose in the series as the former UCLA started effortlessly darted in and out of the Bulls defense.

Williams regained his production off the bench in the past two games, scoring 20 points in Game 2 and 14 points in Game 3 to help the Sixers win both games.

But Turner has been the star of the first-round series between the Sixers and the Bulls.

The former Ohio State Buckeyes hot shot is averaging 15.7 points, 6.3 boards, and 4.0 dimes per game while constantly delivering clutch plays in the series, including a hustle play that led to two crucial free-throws in the Sixers' 79-74 victory over the Bulls in Game 3.

With the kind of game the Sixers backcourt have been showing of late, the first-seeded Bulls could find their championship dream crashing earlier than expected.

The Sixers will try to snare a commanding 3-1 advantage in the series when they take on the Bulls in Game 4 Sunday, 1 pm ET at Wells Fargo Arena.