Los Angeles - The Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics are fit to be tied. Ben Gordon's three-pointer sent the game into a second overtime, and John Salmons blocked Paul Pierce's game-tying three-pointer on the final play, helping the Bulls pull out a thrilling 121-118 victory over the Celtics on Sunday, to square their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at two-games apiece.
"We wanted it more," Gordon said. "When we got to the second overtime, I said, 'Let's go out and win this game.' Everybody responded."
Derrick Rose had 23 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. Gordon scored 22 and Salmons finished with 20 for Chicago, which rebounded from a 21-point home-court blowout in Game Three on Friday night.
"Just a great basketball game, both teams were making shots and plays," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. "I'm proud of the way our guys hung in there. We fought hard; we kept our composure and fortunately we were able to make plays at the end."
The best-of-seven series returns to Boston on Tuesday night for pivotal Game Five, where the Bulls stunned the Celtics 105-103 in the opener, but lost Game Two 118-115 on Ray Allen's game-winning three-pointer.
"This is beautiful, man," said Bulls centre Joakim Noah. "Who would have thought we would be in this situation against the defending champs? We just have to stay hungry, keep working hard, and keep believing."
Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 29 points, Ray Allen added 28 while Rajon Rondo had a triple-double with 25 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
"It's a tough one to swallow, but in the playoffs you have to learn to forget it quick," Pierce said. "We are at 2-2, and it's a three-game series now. It's about a test of wills at this point".
Allen's three-pointer with 9.8 seconds in regulation tied it at 96, and his two free throws with nine ticks left in the overtime put the Celtics ahead, 110-107. However, Gordon's triple with 4.5 ticks left sent the contest into a second five-minute session, leveled at 110.
"When there's nine seconds on the clock and you are up by three you can't give up a three, Celtics coach Doc Rivers said "We are always supposed to foul or switch, but we broke all the rules."
The Bulls never trailed in the second overtime, though there were several anxious moments in the final seconds.
Noah's free throw with 35 seconds left put the Bulls ahead, 117-112. But Pierce converted a three-point play and hit a three-pointer around two foul shots by Salmons at the other end, pulling Boston within 119-118 with 19.2 seconds remaining.
After Salmons sank two more free throws with 16.9 ticks left, Pierce looked to force a third overtime. However, Salmons blocked his three-point try from the left wing, sending the 23,067 fans at United Centre into a frenzy.
"This team has a lot of heart, has a lot of character," Salmons said.
Elsewhere: Cleveland Cavalier 99, Detroit Pistons 78 LeBron James had 36 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists as the Cavaliers completed a 4-0 sweep over the Pistons in their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.
Top-seeded Cleveland could have a week-long layoff before facing the winner of the Atlanta-Miami series in the conference semifinals, with the Heat ahead, 2-1.
Mo Williams scored career-playoff 24 for the Cavaliers, who have won eight straight playoff meetings against the Pistons.
Antonio McDyess had 26 points, Will Bynum added 22 for eighth-seeded Detroit, which had its run of six consecutive trips to the conference finals snapped.
Orlando Magic 84, Philadelphia 76ers 81 Hedo Turkoglu's three-pointer with 1.1 seconds left, gave the Magic a dramatic victory over the Sixers, and knotted their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series at 2-2 apiece.
Philadelphia overcame a 10-point deficit in the final 4:20 left and tied the game at 81 on Samuel Dalembert's dunk with 14.8 remaining.
However, Turkoglu got the ball at the top of the key following a timeout. He moved to the right wing and dribbled down the clock before launching his step-back three over Thaddeus Young.
"It's a totally new series now," Turkoglu said after the Magic regained home-court advantage."
Dwight Howard had 18 points with 18 rebounds, Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis finished with 17 apiece for the Magic, which hosts swing Game Five on Tuesday night.
Andre Miller led Philadelphia with 17 points and Young finished with 15.
Houston Rockets 89, Portland Trail Blazers 88. China's Yao Ming had 21 points with 12 rebounds and the Rockets escaped the Trail Blazers to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.
"You got two teams who are completely even and we have been fortunate at our place to get the two wins we needed," Houston coach Rick Adelman said. "Now we have to go to Portland to see if we can play a solid game."
Argentine-native Luis Scola scored 17, Shane Battier had 14 for Houston, which can advance past the opening round for the first time since 1998 with a road victory on Tuesday night.
Brandon Roy scored 31 points, LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 with 10 rebounds for Portland, which faces elimination on Tuesday night.
