Brooklyn, NY

Andray Blatche poured 10 points in the fourth period as the Brooklyn Nets avoided elimination with a 110-91 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference first-round showdown at Barclays Center.

Blatche finished with 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting with five boards while Brook Lopez had 28 points on 11-for-20 shooting and 10 boards as the Nets outscored the Bulls, 33-18, in the fourth period to cut the series lead to 3-2.

"I don't really have a social life. I like hanging out with the guys here. So I definitely didn't want the season to end," Lopez said after the win.

Deron Williams scored 23 points and dished out 10 assists, Gerald Wallace had 12 while Joe Johnson and C.J. Watson added 11 points each for the Nets, who won the rebounding battle, 44-33, including 17 offensive boards.

"I would have been surprised if our guys didn't respond the way they did tonight. It just would have been out of character for the way they've played all year. They've competed in too many other situations to not have competed tonight," said Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo

Overall, the Nets outscored Chicago, 24-12, on second chance points, 21-9 on fast break and 54-42 in the paint.

"We didn't play our best. The rebounding was a big problem. And, defensively, we've got to get better," said Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who missed starting point guard Kirk Hinrich due to a calf injury.

Starting in Hinrich's place, Nate Robinson scored a team-high 20 points, Jimmy Butler had 18, Luol Deng had 12 while Carlos Boozer notched a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Bulls.

Joakim Noah, who entered the series with an average of nine boards a game, and Taj Gibson combined for just five rebounds for the Bulls.

From a close 77-76 lead, Blatche scored six straight points to put the Nets ahead by 85-80 with 9:30 left in the final period.

There was no stopping the Nets from there as Wallace scored five straight points in a closing 12-0 blast to clinch a 19-point victory.

 

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