Sports

Bulls will try again to finish off Nets in first round after stumbling in Game 5

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11), Chicago Bulls forward Carlos Boozer, center, and center Joakim Noah, right, compete for a loose ball in the first half of Game 5 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Monday, April 29, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (The Associated Press)

Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) collides with Chicago Bulls guard Nate Robinson (2) as he drives toward the basket in the first half of Game 5 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Monday, April 29, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) (The Associated Press)

The Chicago Bulls had a chance to put away the Brooklyn Nets. Instead, they'll have to try again.

Their first-round series shifts back to Chicago for Game 6 on Thursday, and the Bulls look like a team that could be in trouble even though they lead 3-2.

Kirk Hinrich was sidelined by a calf injury. Joakim Noah remains hobbled by a foot problem, and instead of putting away the Nets on Monday, the Bulls got tripped up 110-91.

A win on Thursday sends the Bulls to the second round, where LeBron James and the defending champion Miami Heat will be waiting. Otherwise, it's back to Brooklyn for Game 7 on Saturday, a scenario that seemed almost unthinkable just a few days ago.