"The boos coming from the United Center fans midway through the third quarter Monday night weren't directed toward the visiting Hawks. They actually were intended for Carlos Boozer.

"I didn't hear that," Boozer said. "Really I didn't. I just play. I was just trying to get a win."

The Bulls forward, nursing a turf toe injury, was trying to shake off the injury as well as a poor performance in the first round against the Pacers.

"My toe was painful the whole time," Boozer said, "but I was able to deal with it as the game went along."

Subconsciously or not, Boozer appeared to elevate his game after the jeering. He scored three straight baskets in the third quarter and finished with 14 points and eight rebounds during his team's 103-95 loss.

Boozer made 3 of 5 field goals in the third quarter and added four defensive rebounds and an assist. And he managed to stay on the floor, picking up just two fouls in 34 minutes after averaging a foul every 8 minutes in the first round.

"He came out good, dunking the ball," Derrick Rose said of his teammate. "That's the way Booz usually plays; aggressive, attacking the basket. If anything, we've just got to play more together, and I think Booz will go off.""