John Salmons scored 35 points as Chicago beat Boston in a see-saw 128-127 triple overtime battle at the United Center.
Derrick Rose scored 28 points and crucially blocked Rajon Rondo's potentially game-winning jumper with eight second remaining in the seventh period of overtime in this enthralling series, which now heads to Boston on Saturday to determine who meets the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
After his crucial block, Rose had two free-throws to seal the win but even after he missed both with just over three seconds remaining, the Celtics failed to make a play and time expired.
Ray Allen scored a career play-off-high 51 points for the Celtics, while Glen Davis added 23 and Paul Pierce added 22.
Tied 101-101 with just under 30 seconds remaining in regulation, Pierce missed a wide open jumper to leave the Bulls with the ball and just over four seconds to play.
But Chicago failed to score to send the game to overtime for the fourth game and third in a row.
After Ben Gordon fouled out for the Bulls in the first period of overtime, Davis capped a 6-0 Boston run to put the Celtics 109-107 ahead with 40 seconds remaining but Salmons' driving lay-up levelled the contest before Pierce missed as time expired.
In second overtime, the Bulls looked to have done enough as Brad Miller made two from the line with 17 seconds remaining, but Allen popped up with a clutch three-pointer for the Celtics with seven-and-a-half seconds left.
After Davis fouled out and Miller nailed the resulting free throws to put Chicago 128-125 ahead with 29 seconds remaining in the third period of overtime, Rondo responded with a tip shot before Rose came up with his first block of the game to deny the same player.
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