Hinrich's three top scoring games have come in the Bulls' last six

As much as Derrick Rose dominated the Celtics on Tuesday, Kirk Hinrich (30 points) knocked down some of the game's biggest shots.

Hinrich buried a pair of 3-pointers in the final minutes, including one with 1:15 left after Boston closed within 4 points.

Following 2 free throws from Paul Pierce, Hinrich put the game on ice by draining a 19-footer as the shot clock expired to make it 95-88 with 43.7 seconds remaining.

Hinrich's three highest-scoring games of the season have come in the last six contests. He had 24 points against Charlotte on April 3 and 23 against Cleveland on April 8.

"I feel good about knowing where my opportunities are going to come, trying to stay into it," Hinrich said of his hot streak. "I think I'm doing a better job of staying in the game, looking for my opportunities."

Battling Bobcats: All it will take for the Bulls to secure a playoff berth is a win at Charlotte on Wednesday.

"We control our own destiny and that's a good feeling," center Joakim Noah said. "This team's been through a lot of ups and downs throughout the year. We've fought through so much adversity. To be in this position right now where we have a chance to make the playoffs, that's a good feeling."

The Bobcats are already locked into the No. 7 playoff position and will face Orlando in the first round, so they'll have nothing at stake.

"We're confident, but we've still got to play that game," Derrick Rose said. "They're a team where they're still going to go out there and play hard. Larry Brown's a good coach. No matter if it's the last person on the bench or a starter, he's going to be yelling at them."

Doc plugs new Demon: During his three-day stay in Chicago, Celtics coach Doc Rivers had dinner with new DePaul coach Oliver Purnell, a former USA Basketball colleague during the 2001 Goodwill Games.

"He's good, I'm telling you," Rivers said of Purnell. "He's turned everything around."

Pulling for OT: Boston coach Doc Rivers was asked whether the Bulls can be a dangerous first-round playoff opponent again this year. Of course, the Bulls played an entertaining seven-game series with the Celtics in 2009.

"If they get in, I hope they take (the Cavaliers) to seven games," Rivers said. "That would be terrific. And triple overtimes in all the games. I think that would be absolutely fantastic."

Bull horns: During a first-quarter time out, the Bulls honored Scottie Pippen for being chosen for induction in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. - Boston's loss cemented it the No. 4 playoff seed, with a first-round matchup against Miami or Milwaukee.