The Celtics are set to take on the Bulls, with their sights set on stretching their winning streak to nine games.
The Boston Celtics will be aiming for their ninth consecutive win as they take on the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. This matchup marks the third encounter between Boston and Chicago this season, with the Celtics securing victories in their previous two meetings: 124-97 at home on November 28th and 129-112 on the road on February 22nd.
Despite missing key players like Jayson Tatum (ankle), Jrue Holiday (dead arm), and Al Horford (toe), 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 for Boston with 33 points, while Payton Pritchard contributed 20 points and Derrick White added 19 points along with 11 assists. The Celtics’ defense held the Pistons to just 19 points in both the second and fourth quarters.
Saturday’s game against the Bulls will be the second stop on Boston’s six-game road trip. Speaking about their mindset, Brown emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and executing their game plan, regardless of the absence of key players.
On the other hand, the Bulls (34-36) are coming off a 127-117 loss to the Houston Rockets, ending their two-game winning streak. Ayo Dosunmu impressed with a game-high 35 points, displaying improved consistency according to coach Billy Donovan. Nikola Vucevic recorded his 40th double-double of the season with 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Coby White returned from a hip sprain to contribute 13 points.
Chicago faced adversity in the last game as DeMar DeRozan was ejected in the second half following an altercation. Donovan expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating but acknowledged the need for his team to bounce back from the loss.
