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Bulls 77, Sixers 69

Posted Wednesday May 9, 2012 1:01AM

By Kent McDill, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: Whether it was the result of a strong defensive effort by one team or a poor offensive showing by the other, the host Chicago Bulls recorded a 77-69 victory over Philadelphia Tuesday to stay alive in their first round playoff series. The 76ers still lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 heading back to Philadelphia Thursday for Game Six. Luol Deng led the Bulls with 24 points and Carlos Boozer had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Jrue Holiday led the 76ers with 16 points, while Spencer Hawes had 11 points and 14 rebounds.

THE FACTS II: The victory was the first for the Bulls since Derrick Rose went down with an ACL tear in Game 1 of the series. The Bulls took the lead for good midway through the second quarter. The 76ers had just 26 points at halftime, although the Bulls weren't much better with 35.

QUOTABLE I: "They were the No. 1 defensive and rebounding team in the regular season for a reason. We are getting good shots. We just didn't hit our open shots."
-- Philadelphia forward Elton Brand talking about the Bulls.

THE STAT: The 76ers shot just 32 percent (25 for 78) from the field, their third consecutive game shooting under 40 percent. The Bulls shot 41.5 percent (32 for 82).

THE STAT II: The Bulls made just four of 11 free throws, and the 76ers were 17 for 24 from the line.

THE STAT III: Each team had 11 blocked shots (three for Brand of Philadelphia, four for Taj Gibson of the Bulls). The Bulls averaged just under six blocks per game during the regular season, and the 76ers averaged just over five per game.

TURNING POINT: After a taffy pull of a first quarter, Deng hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bulls an 18-17 lead at the end of the first. The Bulls then scored 10 of the final 12 points of the second quarter to open a 35-26 halftime advantage.

PLAYOFF INTENSITY: Gibson and Brand ended up on the floor battling for a rebound late in the second quarter, and suddenly all the players from both teams started pushing and shoving each other over the two sprawled players. Gibson and Brand each earned technical fouls

INJURY UPDATE: With 2:06 left in the third quarter, Gibson's right foot got bent under Philadelphia centerLavoy Allen and he left the game and went to the locker room. When Gibson hit the floor, the United Center crowd gasped loudly, as Bulls fans worried that a third key player (Rose, Noah) was about to have a severe injury. Gibson came back to play in the fourth quarter.

HOT: Although he was just three for seven from the field, Gibson had seven rebounds and four blocks to go with eight points and was the emotional leader of the game.

NOT: Holiday made just five of 17 shots from the field for his team-high 16 points.

QUOTABLE II: "His impact on the game was terrific.''
-- Philadelphia coach Doug Collins on the play of Gibson.

QUOTABLE III: "They are going to treat game in Philadelphia like Game Seven because they don't want to come back here. We have to figure out a way to do the same thing we did tonight and come out of there with a win."
-- Bulls guard Rip Hamilton.

ROOKIE WATCH: Allen, a rookie from Temple, was Philadelphia's leading scorer at halftime with just six points. He finished with nine points and six rebounds.

NOTABLE: The 26 points scored by Philadelphia in the first half was the lowest in franchise history. ... The game was stopped in the second quarter because there was chewing gum on the basketball. ... The Bulls made more 3-pointers (five) than they did free throws (four)...

UP NEXT: Game 6 of the series Thursday night at Philadelphia.