The Boston Celtics are aiming for their ninth straight win as they head to face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, marking their third encounter this season. Boston previously triumphed over Chicago with scores of 124-97 at home on Nov. 28 and 129-112 in Chicago on Feb. 22. Despite missing key players like Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford due to injuries, the Celtics continued their road success by defeating the Detroit Pistons 129-102 on Friday night, extending their away winning streak to five games.
Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 33 points, supported by Payton Pritchard’s 20 points and Derrick White’s 19 points along with 11 assists. Boston’s defense was formidable, limiting the Pistons to only 19 points in both the second and fourth quarters. Looking ahead to the matchup with Chicago, Brown emphasized the importance of focus and mindset in executing their game plan.
Meanwhile, the Bulls, with a record of 34-36, saw their two-game winning streak halted by a 127-117 loss to the Houston Rockets. Ayo Dosunmu showcased a stellar performance, scoring 35 points on 13-of-18 shooting, drawing praise from coach Billy Donovan for his consistency and decision-making on the court. Nikola Vucevic contributed with 16 points and 14 rebounds, marking his 40th double-double of the season. Additionally, Coby White returned from a hip sprain and provided 13 points against Houston.
Chicago faced adversity as DeMar DeRozan was ejected alongside Houston’s Dillon Brooks following an altercation in the third quarter. DeRozan, leading Chicago in scoring and assists this season, was a significant absence in the latter part of the game. Donovan expressed concerns about the officiating but acknowledged areas for improvement in their gameplay.
