Bucks defense gets best of Bulls

Maybe a proper nickname for the Milwaukee Bucks would be the "Smothers Brothers."

Most fans were expecting the home team to advance in Monday's Game 5 at the United Center, but the Bucks defense blanketed the Bulls like a spring snowstorm.

Milwaukee loves to use its long-armed defenders to trap all over the court. In this game, the Bulls couldn't move the ball fast enough beat the double teams. There was always an extra arm ready to contest the shot.

Trying to draw a foul was simply a bad plan in this game. Pleas to the referees were met with blank stares. This was playoff basketball all the way.

And this first round series will continue after Milwaukee led the entire second half and won 94-88. With the Bulls' lead in the series cut to 3-2, Game 6 will be Thursday, 6 p.m. at the Bradley Center.

The Bulls shot 34.8 percent from the field in Game 5 and went just 4-for-21 from 3-point range.

Pau Gasol led the Bulls with 25 points and Jimmy Butler added 20. But Butler hit just 5 of 21 shots. Derrick Rose (13 points) made 5 of 20.

Turnovers weren't even much of a problem this time. The Bulls finished with 13, while Milwaukee had 17. The Bucks had 11 blocked shots.

The Bucks shot 42.4 percent from the field and were led by Michael Carter-Williams with 22 points and Khris Middleton with 21.

Check back for more on this game from Mike McGraw.