Celtics-Bulls Preview

By JEFF MEZYDLO
Posted Feb 16 2012 12:27AM

The Chicago Bulls were unable to beat the Boston Celtics on the road without Derrick Rose last weekend. It seems they must try to do it again minus their injured star at home this time.

With Rose likely to miss his fourth consecutive game because of back problems, the Eastern Conference-leading Bulls look to avenge their latest defeat while trying for a fourth consecutive home victory over the struggling Celtics on Thursday night.

Despite shooting 38.6 percent and committing 13 turnovers, Chicago (24-7) remained competitive without Rose during Sunday's 95-91 loss at Boston that snapped a five-game winning streak to conclude a 6-3 road trip.

"We got out-competed," Chicago forward Joakim Noah said.

The Bulls hope that will not be case Thursday as it appears Rose will again sit with a strained lower back. He remains day to day.

"(My back's) getting better," said Rose, averaging 22.0 points and 7.8 assists. "I shouldn't have any problems in the long run. I'm going to take my time and be smart."

Owners of a 6-2 record minus Rose, the Bulls are growing accustom to winning without the reigning MVP. All-Star Luol Deng had 23 points with a career-high 11 assists while Noah added 22 and 11 boards as Chicago hung on for a 121-115 victory over Sacramento on Tuesday to improve to 10-1 at the United Center.

"I think the best thing you can do is try to get better from it," said Deng, who was held to 10 points on 3-of-12 shooting at Boston on Sunday. "If we had a choice, we wouldn't want (Rose) to be hurt, but that's the situation. We really think that it will help us. Guys are stepping up. Guys are getting playing time. We'd rather have this problem now than later in the year."

Carlos Boozer and Rose's replacement C.J. Watson each had 22 points while Noah added 16 with nine boards Sunday as the Bulls split their first two games this season with the Celtics (15-13).

While both of those previous meetings were in Boston, the Bulls have held Doc Rivers' squad to an average of 84.3 points on 40.1 shooting during three straight home wins in the series.

Trying to reverse that trend at the United Center is not the only concern facing the Celtics after they fell for the third time in four games, 98-88 at home to lowly Detroit. Boston, which had won nine of 10 prior to this current rough stretch, opens a five-game trip Thursday.

"It's very disappointing," said forward Paul Pierce, who has averaged only 10.3 points on 11-of-32 shooting in the last three games. "I am very surprised by our inconsistent play. But maybe this team needs a little road trip to get it together."

After he recorded 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds against the Bulls last weekend, Rajon Rondo scored a career-high 35 against Detroit, which outscored the Celtics 25-16 in the fourth quarter.

"So far, we've proven we can beat anybody and lose to anybody," Rivers said. "That's the maddening part. What we haven't proven is that we can be a consistent basketball team."

Despite Rondo's big effort against the Bulls, he's averaged 8.0 points and shot 11 of 34 from the field during the Celtics' three-game skid at Chicago.

Boston could be without forward Kevin Garnett for a second straight game because of a hip flexor.

Boozer, Deng lead Bulls over Celtics 89-80

By ANDREW SELIGMAN
Posted Feb 17 2012 12:25AM

CHICAGO (AP) The Chicago Bulls understand they'll be better off once Derrick Rose returns.

No need to rush, though. They keep winning even with their star sidelined.

Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng each scored 23 points, and Chicago escaped with an 89-80 victory over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night after blowing a 16-point lead.

It was hardly an easy night for the Bulls, but they won again even though Rose, the reigning MVP, missed his fourth straight game because of lower back pain.

"I think we're all confident in our abilities, but we know that we're not getting to where we want to get to without that guy," Joakim Noah said.

For now, they're getting by. It hasn't been easy the past few games, though.

The Bulls struggled early before going on a big run that gave them a 16-point lead in the opening minutes of the third quarter. Boston came roaring back and was up 61-60 early in the fourth after Chris Wilcox's alley-oop dunk, but a 12-point run broke a 69-69 tie and sent Chicago to its seventh win in eight games.

Taj Gibson's layup four minutes into the quarter started the decisive rally. Deng sandwiched a 3-pointer and layup around a free throw by Kyle Korver, and Boozer capped the rally with a pair of layups that made it 81-69, giving Chicago its league-leading 25th win.

Deng had another big game, finishing with 10 assists after dishing out a career-high 11 and scoring 23 in Tuesday's win over Sacramento.

Boozer hit 11 of 15 shots and grabbed 15 rebounds, and Noah added 15 points and 16 rebounds. The Bulls dominated on the boards 52-37 even though they got outrebounded 15-10 in the first quarter, and they avenged a loss at Boston on Sunday.

"I thought we came out soft in the first quarter," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "They got us back on our heels. We were not taking it up strong and they are very good defensively."

By the end of the game, the Bulls had a 16-6 edge in offensive rebounds and 12-6 advantage in second-chance points.

"You play defense for 22, 23 seconds and you don't get the rebound, it zaps the energy," Boston's Paul Pierce said.

The Celtics lost for the fourth time in five games even though Kevin Garnett finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds after sitting out the previous night against Detroit with a hip flexor.

Rajon Rondo had 17 points and eight assists, but had his difficulties with Mike James guarding him. Pierce scored 14, and Ray Allen finished with 12 points after a slow start, but the Celtics came up short.

The Bulls appeared to be in good shape leading 51-35 early in the third after Boozer capped a 22-2 run with a dunk, but after blowing nearly all of a 19-point lead against Sacramento on Tuesday, they watched as the Celtics came storming back.

Allen found his stroke, hitting three 3-pointers as Boston pulled within one going into the fourth. And Wilcox's alley-oop from Rondo in the opening seconds of the fourth gave Boston a short-lived a 61-60 lead.

"Fourth quarters have been our quarters," Allen said. "We get to the fourth quarter and regardless of what's happened in the game we pull it out. We execute offensively. We know who we're going to scoring wise. But right now it's up in the air."

This time, the Bulls seized it. They came out on top even though, at times, they looked like they missed their MVP.

Rose took some free throws at the morning shootaround, but wasn't able to run. Thibodeau said he is "feeling a lot better" but remains day to day.

He has missed nine games this season because of back and toe problems after sitting out a total of six in his first three years, but the Bulls were breathing a little easier this week after a back specialist confirmed there was no structural damage.

"He wants to be out there so bad," Deng said. "I can see it. Everyone sees it. I keep telling him, `You've just got to be smart."'

Notes: Thibodeau said G Richard Hamilton is "making good progress." The veteran remains sidelined by an injured right thigh. ... This was the start of a five-game trip for Boston.

Notebook: Bulls 89, Celtics 80

Posted Thursday February 16, 2012 11:48PM

By Kent McDill, for NBA.com

THE FACTS: In a game of streaks, the host Chicago Bulls outlasted the Boston Celtics, 89-80. The Celtics led by eight in the first quarter, the Bulls charged back to lead by 16 in the third quarter and then the Celtics took a two--point lead in the fourth quarter. The Bulls went on a 20-6 run to secure the win. The Bulls were led by Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng with 23 points each. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

THE STAT: The Bulls had three players with double-doubles. Boozer had 23 points and 15 rebounds, Deng had 10 assists to go with his 10 points and Joakim Noah had 15 points and 16 rebounds.

QUOTABLE: "We tied it at 69 and then let up some on offense."
-- Boston coach Doc Rivers

TURNING POINT: With the score tied at 69, the Bulls scored 12 straight points. Deng and Boozer contributed two baskets each.

HOT: Noah has averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds in his last five games.

NOT: Ray Allen was zero for five from the field in the first half as part of a three-game 4-of-19 stretch. He came back to hit three 3-pointers in the second half.

GOOD MOVE: When starting point guard C.J. Watson got his third foul in the second quarter, Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau skipped over John Lucas III and called on recent D-League callup Mike James. James had eight points and four assists in 17 minutes before fouling out while bothering Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo.

QUOTABLE II: "Rondo is a load to deal with. I thought Mike battled him tough."
-- Thibodeau on using James

INJURY REPORT: Bulls guard Derrick Rose missed his fourth straight game because of back pain. Thibodeau said Rose and Rip Hamilton (thigh bruise) are day-to-day. Garnett played after missing Wednesday' game against Detroit with a hip flexor,

NOTABLE: The Bulls are 7-2 without Rose in the lineup this season.

INSIDE THE ARENA: During a first quarter timeout, Bulls mascot Benny stood behind Bulls forward Brian Scalabrine with a sign that read "He's ours and you can't have him back." Scalabrine was a very popular member of the Celtics before joining the Bulls last season.

UP NEXT: For the Bulls, Saturday vs. Nets, Monday vs. Hawks, Wednesday Vs. Bucks. For the Celtics, Sunday @ Pistons, Monday at Mavericks, Wednesday at Thunder.

• Celtics: Bass, Daniels
• Bulls: Hamilton

• Celtics: Wilcox
• Bulls: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 6

• Arena: United Center, Chicago, IL
• Officials: #32 Eddie F. Rush, #42 Eric Lewis, #75 Eric Dalen
• Attendance: 22592
• Duration: 2:35