“We were getting decent looks, but we just weren’t making them,” Porzingis said. “And when you’re not making them, not that our energy was lacking, but it’s just not the same hype. And honestly, they were taking and making some tough shots, and they were also making the open ones.”
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The Celtics also saw their worst shooting percentage (39.2 percent) from the field in a game this season, connecting on 38-of-97 attempts.
Meanwhile, Chicago is coming off one of their best defensive performances thus far. They had 56 rebounds and forward Zach LaVine led the offense with a season-high 36 points.
“They played physical,” Jaylen Brown said. “They hit shots. They guarded well. If a team’s hitting shots and guarding well, anything can happen on any given night.”
Sam Hauser is questionable to play with lower back spasms.
Here’s your preview.
When: Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: United Center, Chicago
TV, radio: NBCSB, WROR-FM (105.7)
Line: Boston -10.5. O/U: 240.5.
CELTICS
Season record: 21-6. vs. spread: 10-17. Over/under: 12-14, 1 push
Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 3-7. Over/under: 4-6
BULLS
Season record: 13-15. vs. spread: 14-13, 1 push. Over/under: 16-12
Last 10 games: 6-4. vs. spread: 6-3, 1 push. Over/under: 5-5
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Boston 119.5, Chicago 118.8
Points allowed per game: Boston 110.0, Chicago 121.4
Field goal percentage: Boston .456, Chicago .473
Opponent field goal percentage: Boston .460, Chicago .477
3-point percentage: Boston .367, Chicago .378
Opponent 3-point percentage: Boston .350, Chicago .339
Stat of the day: The victory ended the Bulls’ five-game losing streak against the Celtics, which included a 138-129 home loss on Nov. 29. It also gave the Bulls three straight victories for the first time this season.
Notes: LaVine scored five consecutive points after Boston made it a 99-96 game on a Brown 3-pointer. Two of those five points came on free throws after Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and Brown were each hit with a technical foul with 5:12 to play — Mazzulla for walking onto the court and Brown for asking why his coach was given the tech. Tatum also received a technical with 3:10 remaining . . . The Bulls were 19 of 52 from 3-point range. They trailed 57-54 at halftime and 86-82 entering the fourth, but used a 12-0 run to take a 99-90 lead . . . Tatum had 31 points and 10 rebounds but was 10-of-22 shooting from the field.
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.
Alexa Podalsky can be reached at alexa.podalsky@globe.com.
