Rose leads Bulls charge in win over Hawks
CHICAGO—NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose scored 33 points to lead Chicago to a 95-83 victory Tuesday that put the Bulls one win away from reaching the NBA’s Eastern Conference finals.
Luol Deng added 23 points for Chicago, who took a three-games-to-two lead in the best-of-seven second-round playoff series.
The last time Chicago reached the conference finals was in 1998, when superstar Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen completed their second NBA title three-peat.
The Hawks will try to rebound on Thursday when they host game six.
Taj Gibson came off the bench and scored 11 points for the Bulls, all in the fourth quarter.
Rose also scored 11 in the fourth, as Chicago out-scored the Hawks 26-15 in the period.
Rose, who needed 32 shots to score 34 points in the Bulls’ game-four defeat, made 11-of-24 and handed out nine assists.
Jeff Teague, playing in place of injured Kirk Hinrich, had 21 points and Josh Smith added 16 points for the Hawks.
The winner of the series will play either Miami or Boston in the conference finals for a chance to take on a team from the West for the NBA crown.
The Heat lead their series 3-1 and will try to close out the Celtics in game five on Wednesday in Miami.
