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Deng, Bulls bounce back with win over Hawks

Apr 1, 2007 - 8:50 PM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Luol Deng would not let the Chicago Bulls suffer another harmful loss.

Deng scored 11 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter as the Bulls overcame a slow start to rally for a 105-97 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks.

The victory came less than 24 hours after Chicago (44-31) squandered a late lead and dropped a 112-108 overtime decision to the Central Division rival Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Bulls picked up where they left off Sunday, facing a 56-52 halftime deficit to the lowly Hawks.

But Deng and rookie Tyrus Thomas made several pivotal plays down the stretch to help the Bulls climb within one game of Cleveland (44-29) for second place in the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers visit the Boston Celtics later Sunday.

The score was tied, 80-80, with 8:29 remaining when Chris Duhon made a layup to spark a 10-2 run and give Chicago the lead for good. Thomas pushed the advantage to 84-80 just 31 seconds later, converting a putback off an offensive rebound.

Atlanta pulled within 84-82 on Tyronn Lue's basket with 7:05 left, but Deng drilled a jumper on the ensuing possession to push Chicago's lead back to 86-82.

The 6-9 Thomas highlighted the Bulls' pivotal surge just 18 seconds after Deng's jumper, intercepting Zaza Pachulia's ill-advised pass and capping a fast break with a thunderous lefthanded dunk to make it 88-82 with 8:25 to go.

Kirk Hinrich scored 22 points while fellow guard Ben Gordon added 15 and seven assists for the Bulls, who swept their four-game season series with the Hawks. Duhon chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Josh Smith scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to pace Atlanta, which lost its sixth straight contest.