The Chicago Bulls on Tuesday didn't lose their grip in the fourth quarter as they'd done in previous games, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 77-69 and sending the series back to Philadelphia for Game 6.
Luol Deng had 24 points and eight rebounds. Carlos Boozer had 19 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
Taj Gibson in the third quarter rolled his ankle, likely sending a shockwave through the hearts of Bulls fans who have already seen guard Derrick Rose and Center Joakim Noah sit out games due to injury.
This time, however, the player returned. Gibson came back to the game with 6:43 left in the fourth.
The Bulls, who trailed 3-1 in the first-round series, were trying to avoid becoming just the fifth top seed to lose to an eighth seed.
Noah was out of the lineup for the second straight game because of a sprained left ankle.
Noah was injured midway through the third quarter of Game 3 when he stepped on Andre Iguodala's foot while driving the lane and crashed to the court. He sat out Game 4.
Noah shot free throws at the end of the morning shootaround on Tuesday but had a noticeable limp.
The Bulls lost star Rose to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee late in the series-opening victory.
Game 6 is Thursday.
