CHICAGO – Rookie Ben Gordon scored 16 points and hit the game winner with 5.8 seconds left in Chicago’s 92-91 win over the Knicks last night as the Bulls locked up home court advantage for the first round of the playoffs.

Chicago will open its first playoff appearance since 1998 against Washington, which lost any chance for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference by losing to the Nets.

Kirk Hinrich scored 28 of his 34 points in the second half for Chicago, which plays its playoff opener Sunday afternoon.

With the Knicks ahead 91-90, the Bulls had three chances to take the lead in the closing minute. Gordon missed a 3-pointer and got his own rebound, but stepped out with 35 seconds left. Then with 12 seconds to go, Tyson Chandler was called for an illegal screen by referee Eddie Rush.

Chicago quickly fouled Jamal Crawford, who missed two straight free throws. Gordon then hit a 16-foot jumper over Jermaine Jackson with 5.8 seconds left, and Crawford missed an 18-footer that would have won it for New York.

Gordon was carried off the court in celebration by Chandler. It was the second time this season that Gordon hit a game winner against the Knicks in the closing seconds. He scored 13 of 17 points in the fourth quarter and hit the game-winning shot with 0.1 seconds to play in Chicago’s 88-86 win at New York on Jan. 17.

Crawford scored 24 points for New York and Stephon Marbury added 15 points.