Celtics looking for second win against troublesome Bulls

Back-to-back victories in Dallas and San Antonio sent the Boston Celtics home for two games and they felt good.

The Celtics are looking to add to their NBA-leading 28-12 record by closing out a four-game season series against the Chicago Bulls, the team responsible for Boston’s two losses on Monday night. increase.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 63 points in Boston’s sixth win in eight games in a 121-116 victory in San Antonio on Saturday. and took the biggest road win of the season.

Against the Spurs, Boston blew an 11-point lead before scoring the final five points of the game.

Celtics interim head coach Joe Mazzura said: “I’m really happy that the game (Saturday) went like that. “We needed a game like that. No. It’s easy to say that because we won, but I’m happy with how the match went.’ That’s how we did it because we were able to work on some things. “

The Celtics also scored 23 points from key bench man Malcolm Brogdon, while center Robert Williams III also scored in the final minute for 10 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and four blocked shots. bottom.

Williams played 22 minutes against the Spurs, matching his best total of the season.

“We were able to play in different ways. One of the things we have to work on is the late game run with a big lineup that we haven’t seen,” Mazura said. Told. “He gave us a lot on both fronts.”

The Bulls visited Boston two games under .500 at 19-21, but it’s their second three-game winning streak of the season after beating Utah 126-118 at home on Saturday.

Zach LaVine scored 36 points and DeMar DeRozan scored 35 against the Jazz.

One of the two leads Chicago in a 10-game scoring streak.

Lavigne has hit 17 3-pointers in his last two games, including a season-high 11 during a 41-point effort in Friday’s 126-112 victory over Philadelphia.

“It’s scary because there are more games where[Lavigne]shoots like last night than he doesn’t,” DeRozan said. “It’s horrible for him to have that kind of rhythm. As long as[coach Billy Donovan]tells him to do it, not me, we’ll be fine.”

Donovan said having DeRozan shoot 10-15 3s per game would be an ideal range as long as he stays in the offensive flow.

Donovan said of DeRozan, “For us to produce more threes, he can be a big part of that.” You have to find a balance between reaching the basket or passing and attacking someone else.”

Tatum and DeRozan have set the pace for their teams in all three head-to-head meetings between the Celtics and Bulls this season. In Chicago he has two games and one in Boston, with his team winning each game at home.

DeRozan posted a season-high 46 in a 123-119 loss to Boston on November 4.

The Bulls won 121-107 at home on November 21, extending Boston’s all-time winning streak to nine.

–Field level media