NBA - Bulls close in on first Conference Finals berth in 13 years [video]

CHICAGO (NBA) - The Chicago Bulls are closing in on their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 1998 after taking a 3-2series lead in their semi-final against the Atlanta Hawks following a 95-83 win on Tuesday.

MVP Derrick Rose and substitute Taj Gibson combined to score 22 of Chicago's 26 points in a pivotal fourth quarter.

At the defensive end, the Bulls did a stellar job in holding the Hawks to just 15 points in the period.

The visitors trailed 32-21 at the end of the first quarter but battled back to get within 69-68 heading into the final frame.

Atlanta edged in front 70-69 before Rose and Gibson accounted for the next eight points and a 78-70 lead.

The Hawks got no closer than six the rest of the way.

Afterwards, Rose credited Gibson for his contribution off the bench.

"Taj's energy is great and I'm glad he was hitting everything tonight because it opened up everything else on the floor," said the Team USA guard, who finished with 33 points and nine assists.

As for the Hawks, they were left to rue a missed opportunity and pointed to their lack of offensive execution as what ultimately did them in.

"In the fourth quarter, I think we just lost our composure offensively and I told the guys that a bad shot is just as bad as a turnover and we didn't do a good job of executing our offense," Hawks head coach Larry Drew said.

Atlanta big man Al Horford praised Rose and Gibson for taking over in the pivotal fourth quarter.

"In the fourth, Derrick Rose scored some baskets and we had a tough time trying to contain him and Taj Gibson was great, really came off and gave them some great buckets," said the Dominican Republic international.

Game 6 is in Atlanta on Thursday.

History does not favour the Hawks, who have failed to reach the Conference Finals since 1970, back when they played in the west.

Wednesday sees a pair of Game 5. The Miami Heat, up 3-1, look to book their ticket for the Eastern Conference Finals when they take on the Boston Celtics, while the Oklahoma City Thunder host the Memphis Grizzlies in a series tied at 2-2.

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