NBA Playoffs 2015: Bucks Beat Bulls, 94-88 In Game 5, Extends Best-Of-Seven Series

These Milwaukee Bucks are not going down without a fight. Buoyed by great performances from their starting backcourt, Michael Carter-Williams and Khris Middleton, the Jason Kidd-coached squad pulled off an impressive road victory in the 2015 NBA Playoffs beating the Chicago Bulls, 94-88 on Monday night.

Carter-Williams made his best Kidd impersonation when his coach was still playing in the league notching 22 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal and 3 blocked shots against the Bulls. Middleton was as impressive with 21 points and 3 steals for the Bucks, who avoided a sweep in Game 4 at home but now returns to Milwaukee where they will try to force a 3-3 tie in the best-of-seven affair.

The bench also contributed big for the Bucks. O.J. Mayo had 10 points and 4 assists while big man John Henson had 8 points and 14 rebounds. While the Bucks’ reserve played well the same can not be said for the Bulls. Nikola Mirotic had only 3 points on 1-of-6 field goals and Tony Snell had zero points missing all of his three shots from the three-point line. The Bulls starting backcourt in Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose also combined to shoot for just 10-of-41 shots.

Pau Gasol carried the fight with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocked shots for the Bulls, which shot just 31-of-90 overall as a team for 34.4 per cent. They also just made 4-of-22 shots from behind the arc.

The Bucks held a 76-70 lead entering the final quarter and held off the Bulls’ repeated rallies that brought the lead down to 3 or 4 points. The young Milwaukee team showed composure at crunch time, however, and nailed the road victory to extend the series. Game 6 of the Bulls-Bucks series will be on Thursday. The winner of this best-of-seven affair will meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semi-Final.

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