CHICAGO -- This one looked like it was slipping away from the Washington Wizards. Blake Comeau Avalanche Jersey . Then, in a flash everything changed. Bradley Beal came on strong late in regulation to finish with 26 points, Nene scored six of his 17 points in overtime and the Wizards beat the Chicago Bulls 101-99 Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series. Game 3 is Friday at Washington. "Weve got to come out like were down 0-1 or 0-2," said Beal, who scored 11 in the fourth quarter. "Weve got to have that sense of urgency and just that drive and that motivation like we did early. Weve got to be able to maintain that lead. Weve got to continue to stay poised." The Wizards couldnt maintain a 17-point first-quarter lead and had to rally from 10 down in the fourth. Nene scored the first six points in overtime after being held in check by Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah in regulation, and the Wizards hung on after Kirk Hinrich failed to convert at the foul line in the closing seconds of overtime. Noah had just hit two free throws when Beal missed a jumper with 18 seconds left. Jimmy Butler got the rebound and Chicago called time. Hinrich, a 76 per cent free throw shooter this season, had a chance to tie it after getting fouled by Nene on a drive with 2.4 seconds left. But his first attempt hit the rim. He deliberately missed the second, and Trevor Ariza grabbed the rebound to seal the win for Washington. "I went up there thinking I was going to knock them down," Hinrich said. "Tonight, I just couldnt do it. However, I really felt that I shouldve made the layup." D.J. Augustin led Chicago with 25 points but cooled off late in the game with Ariza guarding him. Taj Gibson had 22 points and 10 rebounds. Noah added 20 points and 12 boards, but the Bulls find themselves in a huge hole after dropping two at home. They blew a 13-point lead in Game 1 and couldnt hang on after rallying in this one. Both times, they struggled in the fourth quarter, and coach Tom Thibodeau bristled when asked if he might switch up his late-game rotation. "We look at everything," he said. "Unreal." John Wall had 16 points and seven assists for Washington. The Bulls appeared to be in good shape when they were leading 87-77 five minutes into the fourth. They were still leading, 91-85, when Beal shot the Wizards back into the game. He nailed a 3-pointer that made it 91-88 and added a floater to make it a one-point game. Then, with a chance to put Washington ahead, he hit 1 of 2 free throws with 52.9 seconds left to tie it at 91. Both teams had opportunities to win it in the closing seconds but couldnt convert. "I think we did a great job staying calm and composed," Wall said. "Early in the season, we would get rattled and guys would try to make plays one on one on their own. Tonight, we trusted in our offence like weve been doing." The Bulls were leading 87-77 after a driving layup by Noah and two free throws by Butler with 6:59 left regulation. But with Beal going off, the Wizards made a run. "I cant take a lot of credit for the fourth quarter," said Beal, who scored 11 in the fourth after quiet second and third quarters. "I think we got a lot of offensive rebounds and kickouts, and John hit me on a couple. I was fortunate to be able to knock down some, and I just stayed with it. NOTES: Only three teams have dropped Games 1 and 2 at home and won a series: the 1968-69 Lakers, 1993-94 Rockets and the 2004-05 Dallas Mavericks. ... Dikembe Mutombo presented the Defensive Player of the Year award to Noah, who hoisted the trophy above his head to loud cheers before the game. ... Thibodeau praises San Antonios Gregg Popovich and Phoenixs Jeff Hornacek after they took the top two spots in the Coach of the Year vote. As for the guy who finished third? "Hes terrible," he joked. Thibodeau, of course, took the third spot after guiding the Bulls to 48 wins. It might have been his best coaching job yet, with another knee injury curtailing Derrick Roses comeback and Luol Deng getting traded away. Nicolas Meloche Avalanche Jersey .com) - Eric Fehrs goal 42 seconds into overtime lifted the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Columbus, halting the Blue Jackets seven-game win streak. Lanny McDonald Jersey . Although Olivetti, a qualifier, had 13 aces, he failed to force a single break-point chance on Gasquets serve and lost his own three times. Gasquet next plays third-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, who won had 18 aces in a 6-2, 6-4 win against seventh-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France.Sky Sports Paul Merson is back to look ahead to another crucial round of Premier League fixtures. Eight points off a maiden top-flight crown, Leicester, without the suspended Jamie Vardy, host Swansea on Super Sunday as they look to stretch the gap between themselves and Tottenham.Second-placed Spurs will be waiting, ready to pounce if the Foxes slip up when they entertain West Brom on Monday Night Football. Before all of that, the race for survival takes centre stage as Sunderland look to move out of the relegation zone when they face Arsenal at the Stadium of Light in Sundays early kick-off.There is also the little matter of the FA Cup semi-finals, where Crystal Palace, Everton, Manchester United and Watford jostle for a place in the Wembley showpiece.Read on to see who the Magic Man is backing... Last weeks predictions Result Merses prediction Norwich 0-3 Sunderland 1-1 Everton 1-1 Soton 2-2 Man Utd 1-0 Aston Villa 3-0 Newcastle 3-0 Swansea 2-1 West Brom 0-1 Watford 2-0 Chelsea 0-3 Man City 2-1 Bmouth 1-2 Liverpool 1-2 Leicester 2-2 West Ham 2-1 Arsenal 1-1 Palace 3-0 Stoke 0-4 Spurs 0-4 Leicester v Swansea - Super Sunday, 4.15pm This game was a gimme for Leicester last week, now Jamie Vardy is suspended its not. I dont think Vardy is a great player but without him how are Leicester going to open up the game? He stretches defences and creates space for midfielders on the ball and I cant see who will be able to replace that pace.I just dont see Leicester winning without Vardy, he is a massive, massive miss. Swansea will just play around halfway, suffocate the Foxes and come away with a point which will blow the title race wide open. PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Tottenham v West Brom - Monday Night Football, 8pm Fair play to West Brom, they got their 40 points on the board early doors ahead of an atrocious final run of fixtures. It starts with Spurs, who were outstanding at Stoke. It doesnt even pain me to see Spurs where they are at the moment, they are a very good team. Hopefully their success kicks Arsenal into gear. If this Tottenham team stays together and they get a couple more players theyll be favourites for the title next season. PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)Sunderland v Arsenal - Super Sunday, 2.05pm I watched Arsenal on Sunday and it was one of the flattest performances Ive seen, they just went through the motions. It was so quiet at the Emirates that I heard Petr Cech shout keeper when clearing a ball. How is that possible in front of 60,000 people? Arsenal beat West Brom on Thursday, but they should have beaten Palace too. Sunderland, meanwhile, have picked up under Big Sam, winning at Norwich last week. I fancy them to edge closer to safety with a point, but they do need to score first. PAUL PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 11/2)Man City v Stoke - Saturday, 12.45pm The problem with Man City is that you dont know which team is going to turn up. Will it be the one that won 3-0 at Chelsea or will it be the team that came off the pitch lucky to have earned a 1-1 draw with Newcastle? Stoke are on holiiday and you cannot play football with flip-flops on! Theyve done their hard work, though, theyre safe and you can understand that, particularly when a few players will be at the Euros. Tyson Barrie Jersey. I suspect Sergio Aguero will be rested as City will have one eye on the Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid, but I still expect them to win.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Aston Villa v Southampton - Saturday, 3pm What score do you want? I cant see anything other than a Southampton win. I felt sorry for Joleon Lescott in the week because his comments about relegation being a relief were not meant like that. He meant the club could concentrate on bouncing back next season, so a lot of the criticism he received was unwarranted. Villa should give the kids a chance and see what theyre like ahead of next season - see who can be kept and who cant.PAUL PREDICTS: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)Bournemouth v Chelsea - Saturday, 3pm This is a hard game. Chelsea could have conceded six against Man City on Saturday, their season is over, theyve got players going to the Euros and they cant win a game. Im not sure which way the game will go but I expect a game full of goals, with Bournemouth needing to bounce back from their defeat to Liverpool.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)Liverpool v Newcastle - Saturday, 3pm I was impressed with Newcastle against Man City, they were good. Liverpool keep on getting better and better under Jurgen Klopp and they put Everton to the sword in the derby. I fancy Liverpool here but, with a Europa League semi-final with Villarreal coming up, they may rest players - that said they still turn in decent performances when they do change their team. This is where luck in the relegation fight comes in because if Liverpool were challenging for the top four they would play a full-strength side, and that may help Newcastles cause. I expect Liverpool to just earn the win but I wouldnt be surprised if its a draw.PAUL PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 7/1) Midweek predictions Result Merses prediction Newcastle 1-1 Man City 0-2 Liverpool 4-0 Everton 3-0 Arsenal ?-? West Brom 3-0 FA Cup semi-finalsEverton v Man Utd - Saturday, 5.15pm I dont see how Roberto Martinez can last if he loses at Wembley. He has got things horribly wrong this week. He should have played his strongest team and won against Southampton and then told fans he had to rest everyone against Liverpool in preparation for the semi-final. Instead he rested everyone against Southampton and got booed off and then played his best team against Liverpool and got battered. For the first time he looked lost on the sidelines, the fans have turned and I dont see how he can hold on if they lose. I felt sorry for him but its a situation of his own making, this is a good team that is nowhere. United will win at Wembley, I cant see Everton stopping them. Marcus Rashford is some player and his goal against Villa was as good as it gets - hell be a top-drawer player. Three months ago you would have backed Everton to win this game all day long, not now.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 15/2)Crystal Palace v Watford - Sunday, 4pm I fancy Palace here, theyve just got the edge over Watford. Deeney, who missed a penalty at West Ham, and Ighalo have gone quiet recently and confidence at the club cant be great. When the game starts to open up Palace have got more match winners for and I expect them to just edge a tight contest.PAUL PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)PLAY SUPER 6!Theres another £250,000 jackpot up for grabs in the latest round of the Soccer Saturday Super 6 game. All you have to do is predict the scores of the six selected matches. Its free to play so get your entries in before 3pm GMT on Saturday for the chance to win.PLAY NOW... Also See: Premier League predictor Your teams strength and weakness Race for the top four Play Super 6 Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '