2013 NBA Playoffs: Nets Extend Series After Blasting Bulls In Game 5 [VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS]
Deron Williams and Brook Lopez each recorded double-doubles as the Brooklyn Nets kept their season alive with a 110-91 win over the Chicago Bulls in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference showdown at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Bulls still lead the series 3-2.
The Nets lived up for another day as Williams and Lopez finally found their way to slip through Chicago's suffocating defense.
Williams, who has been badly beaten up by the Bulls in the series, delivered 23 points and 10 assists while Lopez chipped in with usual big numbers (28 points and 10 rebounds).
But the x-factor in Game 4 was the Nets' bench production as C.J Watson, Kris Humphries and Andray Blatche combined for 32 points.
On the other hand, the Bulls badly missed the playmaking presence of Kirk Hinrich, who skipped Monday's ballgame with an injured calf. Derrick Rose again participated during the shoot-around but the former NBA MVP is still not ready to suit up for the Bulls.
After burning the Nets with 34 points in Game 4, Nate Robinson had another solid outing with 20 points and 8 dimes as a starter. Jimmy Butler tallied 18 points but the Bulls frontline trio of Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, and Joakim Noah weren't active as they were in Game 3 and 4.
The Bulls shot a decent 49 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free-throw line. However, the Nets won the rebounding tussle 44-33 and had so many second-chance point opportunities. The Nets controlled the game from the get-go and managed to preserve their lead despite several rallies from the Bulls.
Nevertheless, Brooklyn is still faced with a huge task of sending their Eastern Conference first-round battle to seven games when the series returns to Chicago for Thursday's crucial Game 6 at the United Center.
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