Ben Gordon scored 39 points to lead playoff-bound Chicago to a 113-106 victory over Charlotte on Saturday.
The Bulls trailed 93-92 midway through the fourth quarter when John Salmons and Gordon made back-to-back three-pointers to launch a decisive 10-point run.
Derrick Rose added 22 points and Salmons finished with 19 and Joakim Noah added 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists as the Bulls notched their fourth straight victory and 11th in 14 games.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Chicago now lie seventh in the Eastern Conference, ahead of the Detroit Pistons who lost 106-102 to Indiana on Saturday.
The Bulls also pulled within one-half game of sixth-placed Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference. They are just one game behind fifth-placed Miami.
While the Bobcats saw their postseason hopes die with a loss at Oklahoma City on Friday, they played with intensity and stayed with the Bulls through three quarters, thanks in large part to the 26 points of Raymond Felton and 24 points from Boris Diaw.
Gordon and Salmons keyed a fourth-quarter surge that carried the Bulls to victory.
Gordon made seven-of-12 on three-pointers in the game and scored 13 points in the final quarter, while Salmons scored 11 points in the fourth.
The Bulls are in the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.
NETS 103, MAGIC 93
At East Rutherford, New Jersey, The Orlando Magic’s bid for the No. 2 seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference was ended by a loss to the New Jersey Nets.
The Magic may have lost more than the No. 2 seed. Star forward Hedo Turkoglu hurt his left ankle with 6:51 left in the game and he had to be helped to the locker room. There was no immediate word on his condition.
Vince Carter had 27 points and nine assists for the Nets, who played without All-Star guard Devin Harris (shoulder).
WARRIORS 118, JAZZ 108
At Salt Lake City, Utah, C.J. Watson scored a career-high 38 points as an undermanned Golden State downed the home team.
PACERS 106, PISTONS 102
At Indianapolis, Indiana, the home team stalled Detroit’s bid for a higher playoff seed.
TRAIL BLAZERS 87, CLIPPERS 72
At Los Angeles, Portland beat the home team to tie for third place in the Western Conference.
Portland tied Houston for the No. 3 seed with its fourth straight victory. The Trail Blazers also pulled within a game of Northwest Division leader Denver, which is second in the West.
SUNS 110, TIMBERWOLVES 97
At Minneapolis, Minnesota, Grant Hill scored 19 points in 23 minutes to lead Phoenix over the home squad.
BUCKS 115, THUNDER 98
At Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the hosts snapped a four-game losing streak by beating Oklahoma City.
Richard Jefferson tied a season high with 35 points for the Bucks.
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