When the Boston Celtics play the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night, they’ll be looking for their ninth straight victory. This season’s third meeting between Boston and Chicago will take place. On Nov. 28, Boston won 124-97 at home, and on Feb. 22, Boston defeated Chicago 129-112. Despite missing star player Jayson Tatum (ankle), veteran player Jrue Holiday (dead arm), and starting point guard Al Horford (toe), the Celtics (56-14) defeated the Detroit Pistons 129-102 on Friday night to increase their winning run on the road to five games.
Jaylen Brown led Boston with 33 points. Payton Pritchard scored 20 and Derrick White added 19 points and 11 assists. The Celtics held the Pistons to 19 points in both the second and fourth quarters. Saturday’s matchup with Chicago will be the second stop on Boston’s six-game trip. “It’s a battle of focus, a battle of mindset,” Brown said. “We could have come out and went through the motions, allowed Detroit to get comfortable, but we came out and we executed. We didn’t play around. Even though we were down a couple players, we still came out and took care of business. That’s the most important thing.”
The Bulls (34-36) lost 127-117 to Houston on Thursday, ending a two-game winning streak. Chicago’s Ayo Dosunmu scored a game-high 35 points, making 13 of his 18 field goal attempts. Billy Donovan, the coach of Chicago, stated, “I’ve been (challenging Dosunmu) on the consistency part.” “He’s had some really strong scoring nights these last three games, but I’m not really basing it on the scoring. It’s the way he’s playing, I believe. He’s starting to decline, making wise choices, and taking high-percentage shots, which are excellent for him. Furthermore, he seems to be making wise choices with the ball.
“Just need him to continue to emerge and continue to get better.” In the defeat, Nikola Vucevic contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls. He had recorded 40 double-doubles so far this season. After missing the previous three games due to a hip sprain, Coby White returned and scored 13 points for Chicago. Donovan stated, “I was really happy with Coby (against Houston).” “The physical appearance of him. He had a really nice bounce, in my opinion. His legs turned to face beneath him. I thought he looked fine physically, but if he plays a little bit more, he’ll get his timing back.”
“Just need him to continue to emerge and continue to get better.” For the Bulls in the defeat, Nikola Vucevic contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds. This season, it was his 40th double-double. In addition, Coby White, who had missed the previous three games due to a hip sprain, scored 13 points for Chicago. Donovan expressed his satisfaction with Coby’s performance versus Houston. “His physical appearance. I think his bounce was excellent. He gazed down at his legs. Though I felt he looked fine physically, he’ll get his timing back after he plays a little bit more.”