ATLANTA (AP) – Luol Deng set an early high-energy pace with his fast-break baskets, and the Chicago Bulls never let Atlanta catch up, beating the Hawks 95-90 Saturday night for their sixth straight win in the series.

The Bulls, who swept four games from the Hawks last season, have won the first two games in this season’s series.

Chicago never trailed and held off a late comeback sparked by Al Harrington, who scored 32.

Deng had 21 points as the Bulls, chasing Philadelphia and Milwaukee for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, snapped a two-game losing streak.

Tyson Chandler recorded his eighth double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Kirk Hinrich added 18 points and Malik Allen had 12.

One game after scoring a career-high 42 points, Joe Johnson had 22 for the Hawks, including a basket to cut the deficit to 88-83.

Two free throws by Josh Smith with 30 seconds left pulled the Hawks within 91-88. Hinrich answered with two free throws with 14 seconds left and then iced the win with two more free throws with 8.3 seconds to play.

Smith and Zaza Pachulia each had 11 points for Atlanta.

Despite having little rest following a home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night, the Bulls played with more energy than the Hawks, who had not played since Tuesday night.

The Bulls, who have not lost to the Hawks since April 9, 2004, did not trail in the first half while shooting 53 percent from the field.

Deng, who had 13 points in the first half, set the pace by making three layups in the first 6 minutes, giving the Bulls an early 17-7 lead.

The Bulls led 47-39 at halftime after building another 10-point lead at 39-29. Chicago led 73-63 entering the final period and stretched the lead to 83-69.

Notes: Hinrich sat out much of the third quarter after falling hard on his right knee early in the period. … Hawks G Josh Childress missed his third straight game with a sprained left ankle. … Hawks C John Edwards was in uniform but missed his second straight game with a sprained ankle. … The Bulls announced before the game that F Darius Songaila will be out six to eight weeks with a fractured right foot. Songaila had played in every game before Saturday night, averaging 9.2 points and 4.0 rebounds.

AP-ES-03-11-06 2155EST