The Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers are tied for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Chicago owns the tiebreaker because of a better conference record. The No. 8 seed will open the playoffs against the top-seeded Pistons.
Both teams are 37-41. The Bulls have home games left against Washington and Toronto, and road games in Miami and Orlando; the Sixers close with a home game against New Jersey, and road games in Miami, Orlando and Charlotte.
The Bulls played without starting guard Chris Duhon (lower back pain) for the second straight game and starting forward Luol Deng (concussion) for the third straight.
Ben Gordon led Chicago with 19 points. Kirk Hinrich added 17 points and Michael Sweetney 15.
Josh Smith led the Hawks with 22 points and six blocked shots.
Philadelphia 116, New Jersey 96: Allen Iverson had 40 points and 10 assists for the visiting 76ers. Chris Webber added 18 points. Vince Carter led the Nets with 21 points.
Indiana 117, Boston 112: The host Pacers got 25 points from Peja Stojakovic, 21 points and 15 rebounds from Jermaine O'Neal. Indiana, which made 13 three-pointers, beat the Celtics for the first time in four tries. Paul Pierce scored 30 for Boston.
Orlando 103, Toronto 96: Jameer Nelson scored 27 points, leading five Orlando starters in double figures. The Raptors, led by Morris Peterson's 23 points, have lost 10 in a row. Toronto hasn't won since losing All-Star forward Chris Bosh to a season-ending thumb injury March 26. Orlando guard and ex-Piston Carlos Arroyo missed his second straight game with a strained left hamstring.
Memphis 96, Charlotte 88: Eddie Jones (16 points) hit a 16-foot jumper that barely beat the shot clock with 41 seconds left, sealing the visiting Grizzlies' win.
New Orleans 104, Seattle 99: At Oklahoma City, Chris Paul scored four of his 21 points in the final minute for the Hornets. New Orleans trails Sacramento by two games for the final playoff spot in the West.
Milwaukee 100, Washington 97: Michael Redd scored 24 points for the host Bucks.
Utah 104, Denver 83: Carlos Boozer had 25 points and 13 rebounds for the host Jazz.
Minnesota 82, Houston 79: Marcus Banks hit the go-ahead jumper in the fourth quarter and scored 15 points as the Timberwolves snapped a 14-game road losing streak.