Cross off another batch of experts, as the Atlanta Hawks have forced at least a six-game series against the No. 1 seed Chicago Bulls by winning 100-88 Sunday night. Atlanta kept Game 4 close through the first 45 minutes or so before running away with the final few, scoring 10 straight points off of dunks or layups before Jeff Teague and Jamal Crawford finished the Bulls off.
Josh Smith played one of the most up-and-down games of his career, finishing with an imposing 23-point, 16-rebound, eight-assist (and so on) box score, but hurling so many of his unpopular deep two-pointers that he earned national scorn from Charles Barkley at halftime.
Derrick Rose once again filled up his stat sheet, but some are concerned with how many shots he took in crunch time. His runners came up short when the Bulls needed points the most -- could Tom Thibodeau's decision to play Rose for the entire 48 have ended up costing Chicago the game?
The best part: if the Hawks can steal one more United Center victory, they'll have a chance to close out the series at the Highlight Factory and reach their first-ever Eastern Conference Finals. We're getting ahead of ourselves. Updated series schedule:
Game 1: Hawks def. Bulls, 103-95 (1-0)
Game 2: Bulls def. Hawks, 86-73 (1-1)
Game 3: Bulls def. Hawks, 99-82 (2-1)
Game 4: Hawks def. Bulls, 100-88 (2-2)
Game 5: Tue., May 10 in Chicago, 8 p.m. EDT, TNT, 97.9 FM
Game 6: Thu., May 12 in Atlanta, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN, 97.9 FM
Game 7: Sun., May 15 in Chicago, Time TBD, TNT, 97.9 FM
For more on the series, visit SB Nation's NBA hub, Peachtree Hoops, Blog-a-Bull, and SB Nation Chicago.