The Boston Celtics are aiming for their ninth straight win as they head to face the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. This will mark their third encounter this season, with the Celtics winning 124-97 at home on November 28 and 129-112 in Chicago on February 22.
Despite missing key players like Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford due to various injuries, the Celtics managed to extend their road winning streak to five games by defeating the Detroit Pistons 129-102 on Friday night. Jaylen Brown led the charge with 33 points, supported by Payton Pritchard’s 20 points and Derrick White’s 19 points and 11 assists. The Celtics’ defense held the Pistons to just 19 points in both the second and fourth quarters.
Looking ahead to the matchup against Chicago, which is the second stop on their six-game trip, Brown emphasized the importance of focus and mindset in maintaining their winning momentum. Meanwhile, the Bulls, with a record of 34-36, saw their two-game winning streak snapped by a 127-117 loss to the Houston Rockets. Ayo Dosunmu impressed with 35 points, showcasing improved consistency, as noted by coach Billy Donovan.
Nikola Vucevic contributed a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls, marking his 40th of the season, while Coby White returned from injury with a 13-point performance. However, Chicago faced challenges as DeMar DeRozan was ejected in the second half along with Houston’s Dillon Brooks after an altercation, leaving a void in scoring and playmaking for the Bulls. Donovan expressed dissatisfaction with some officiating calls but acknowledged the need for improvement in various aspects of their game.
