Bulls 77, 76ers 69
BULLS 77, 76ERS 69: Luol Deng came alive with 24 points and eight rebounds and host Chicago turned in a strong defensive effort to stave off elimination for at least one more game.
Carlos Boozer added 19 points and 13 rebounds for the top-seeded Bulls, who trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven. They will try to even it up at Philadelphia on Thursday.
Chicago was again playing without Derrick Rose (knee) and Joakim Noah (ankle) but had Deng step up in Game 5. After averaging just eight points over the past three games, Deng shot 10 for 19 from the field in Game 5, including 4 for 5 from beyond the arc.
The Bulls held the eighth-seeded 76ers to 32 percent shooting, including 28.6 percent in the first half as they built a 35-26 lead at the break.
In losing the last three games, Chicago could not find anyone to step up offensively in the fourth quarter with Rose out. Deng filled that role on Tuesday, hitting 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions early in the period as Philadelphia threatened to get back into the game.
His 3-pointer with 1:31 left put the game away.
The defense took care of the rest, holding the 76ers' backcourt tandem of Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner to a combined 7 for 24 from the field. Deng got the better of his counterpart Andre Iguodala, limiting the All-Star to 4 for 19 shooting.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Chicago is trying to avoid becoming the fifth No. 1 seed to fall to a No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs. … Philadelphia’s 26 first-half points set a franchise playoff low. … Bulls F Taj Gibson left in the third quarter with an ankle injury but returned midway through the fourth.