The Chicago Bulls produced a stingy fourth quarter defensive effort to beat the Atlanta Hawks 95-83 on Tuesday, which gave them a 3-2 Eastern Conference semi-final series lead.
The Bulls held the Hawks to just 15 points in the fourth quarter to regain control of a game they had led for much of the first three quarters.
The teams exchanged the lead eight times over a stretch of 2:40 straddling the third and fourth quarters until league MVP Derrick Rose gave the Bulls the lead for good at 71-70 with a driving layup.
Chicago had led by as many as 15 points in the first quarter, but did not score a field goal over the final six minutes of the first half allowing Atlanta to trim the lead to 48-42.
Atlanta continued to cut into the Bulls lead and took their first lead at 64-63 with 1:45 left in the third quarter.
Rose led the Bulls with 33 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter, and nine assists. Taj Gibson came off the bench and also scored 11 points in the fourth quarter.
Luol Deng added 23 points while Carlos Boozer grabbed 12 rebounds. Jeff Teague led the Hawks with 21 points.
© 2024 Rediff.com -