ATLANTA, April 1 (UPI) -- Luol Deng scored nine of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon to lead the Chicago Bulls over the Atlanta Hawks, 105-97.
Chicago ended a close first half with a 56-52 advantage, and led for most of the second half. Atlanta briefly held a three-point lead in the fourth, but Deng's heroics pulled Chicago away in the end.
Kirk Hinrich had 22 points, three rebounds and three assists. Ben Gordon had 15 points and seven assists, and Deng also had six rebounds for the Bulls, who are fifth in the Eastern Conference playoff chase, and have won four of their last five games.
Josh Smith led Atlanta with 24 points and 12 rebounds. Marvin Williams had 16 points and eight rebounds, Tyronn Lue had 15 points and four assists, and Josh Childress added 12 points and five assists for the Hawks, who suffered their sixth straight loss -- and their 11th straight setback against Chicago.
