Guard Michael Carter-Williams compiled 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks held on for a 94-88 win. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Guard Michael Carter-Williams compiled 22 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the Milwaukee Bucks held on for a 94-88 win against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night in Game 5 of an Eastern Conference quarterfinal playoff series.
The Bucks staved off elimination and trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 is set for Thursday night in Milwaukee.
Forward Pau Gasol scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Bulls. Guard Jimmy Butler added 20 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago, which trailed for the entire second half.
The Bulls narrowed the deficit to 86-83 with 4:45 remaining in the fourth quarter after back-to-back jump shots by guard Derrick Rose and Gasol. Milwaukee responded with a jump shot by Carter-Williams and a slam dunk by forward John Henson to re-establish a seven-point lead.
Chicago struggled to find an offensive rhythm against the length and athleticism of Milwaukee’s defenders. The Bulls shot 34.4 percent (31-for-90) from the field. Rose scored 13 points on 5-for-20 shooting.
Milwaukee shot 42.4 percent (36-for-85) from the field. Guard Khris Middleton contributed 21 points.
The Bucks entered the fourth quarter with a 76-70 lead. Milwaukee sustained an injury scare when Carter-Williams landed awkwardly on his right ankle with 8:19 remaining in the third quarter. The point guard walked to the training room under his own power and returned to the game with 2:54 remaining in the third.
Carter-Williams and Middleton combined for 29 points in the first half to help the Bucks grab a 52-49 lead at the break. Emotions ran high midway through the second quarter as Butler and Bucks guard O.J. Mayo exchanged words. Both were whistled for technical fouls with 6:18 to go in the first half.
Milwaukee led 23-22 after a back-and-forth first quarter that featured several lengthy scoring runs. The Bucks seized a 9-0 lead to open the game as the Bulls missed their first eight field-goal attempts. Chicago recovered with an 11-0 run that included a scooping layup by Rose as he cut across the lane.
NOTES: Bulls F Nikola Mirotic appeared in his second consecutive game off the bench after a knee injury sidelined him for Game 3. Mirotic, 24, did not miss a game during the regular season. … Bulls C Joakim Noah said he felt badly for Cleveland F Kevin Love, who was ruled out for the second round of the playoffs because of a dislocated shoulder. “Unfortunate,” Noah said. “Very unfortunate. You don’t want anybody getting hurt.” … Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd said the series featured a physical tone without becoming personal. “I wouldn’t say tempers are flaring,” Kidd said. “It’s just that everybody is competing to find a way to win.”
