Bulls take this thriller

There were costly missed free throws and turnovers, but when the last elbow had landed and the last floor burn had cooled, the Chicago Bulls escaped with a 121-118 double-overtime victory over the Boston Celtics on Sunday at the United Center, knotting this Eastern Conference first-round series at 2-2. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Boston.

The Bulls overcame a five-point deficit with two minutes left in the first overtime to win with heart and hustle.

A ridiculous three-pointer by Ben Gordon that forced the second overtime didn’t hurt either, which is why Gordon answered quickly when asked where this game ranked in his five-year career.

“This is No. 1, easy,” Gordon said. “This is the biggest game of our careers. This says we never give up.”

Gordon played through a strained left hamstring to score 22 points, including his three-pointer over Paul Pierce with 4.5 seconds left in the first overtime and a 17-foot jumper on the first possession of the second as the Bulls never trailed in the final five minutes.

Derrick Rose flirted with a quadruple-double, tallying 23 points, 11 rebounds, nine assists and, ahem, seven turnovers in another classic battle with Rajon Rondo, who posted a triple-double.

Rose scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, almost single-handedly winning the game on a flurry of relentless drives before Ray Allen forced the first extra session with a three-pointer with 9.8 seconds remaining.

Kirk Hinrich gutted out 43 minutes and offset a critical missed free throw in the first overtime by tirelessly chasing around Allen and Pierce. The latter scored 29 points but shot nine for 24.

And John Salmons overcame an 0-for-6 start and sitting for most of the fourth quarter to hit a huge three-pointer in the first overtime and then score six of his 20 points in the second, including two free throws with 16.9 seconds left.

Salmons blocked Pierce’s potential tying three-pointer with 0.8 seconds left to preserve the 3-hour-33-minute marathon that featured 28 lead changes and 12 ties.

“We should be proud with the way we bounced back after a humiliating Game 3,” Hinrich said.

The Bulls led, 95-93, on Gordon’s runner with 31.2 seconds left in regulation and, after a Glen Davis miss, had Tyrus Thomas at the line. But he made only the second of two, giving Allen a chance to reprise his stunning Game 2 three-pointer.

When Allen made two free throws with nine seconds left in the first overtime, the Bulls needed a miracle. Gordon delivered.

“I’m able to focus more when the game gets tighter,” Gordon said. Coach Vinny Del Negro “drew up a great misdirection. I flared and wasn’t open right away so I took one dribble to create space and it felt good.”

The Bulls felt even better when their defense was able to hold off Boston in the second overtime.

Down 117-112, Pierce converted a three-point play with 27.3 seconds left. Salmons made two free throws, but Pierce countered with a three-pointer. Salmons made two more free throws and then blocked Pierce’s final attempt.

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kcjohnson@tribune.com