Celtics rout Bulls for 50th win, close in on No. 2 spot in East

Jaylen Brown scored 25 factors, Al Horford added 17 on 7-of-7 taking pictures and the Boston Celtics routed the Chicago Bulls 117-94 on Wednesday evening for his or her fiftieth victory.

The Celtics have gained three in a row and are 27-6 since Jan. 22. They’ll wrap up the second spot within the Japanese Convention playoffs Thursday evening with a victory at Milwaukee.

“It’s a fairly easy components,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka stated. “Play protection at an elite stage. Share the ball, be unselfish on offense. And the outcomes are there.”

Jayson Tatum scored 16 factors for Boston. He was 5 of 18 from the sector, making solely one in every of eight from 3-point vary.

The Bulls have misplaced two straight. They claimed a playoff berth Tuesday.

DeMar DeRozan scored 16 factors for Chicago, and Nikola Vucevic added 13 factors. Vucevic had 4 of the Bulls’ 17 turnovers.

“I feel what occurs is while you’re profitable, you’ve got a false sense of actuality of who you might be,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan stated. “And while you’re dropping, you’ve got a false sense of actuality of who you might be.”

The Celtics had a 16-4 run halfway by the primary quarter to take a 31-14 lead. They shot 57.8% within the first half, going 9 of 18 from 3-point vary. Reserve guard Payton Pritchard was 3-for-3 from lengthy distance within the second quarter.

Coming off a house loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday evening, the Bulls dedicated 10 turnovers within the first half. Their frontline depth was weakened when ahead Patrick Williams dedicated his fourth foul with 4:31 left within the second quarter.

Bulls guard Zach LaVine was 1 of 5 from the filed within the first quarter, didn’t try a shot within the second quarter and completed 2 of 9. He had seven factors.

“It’s arduous to play after we’re disconnected like this, and the outcomes present,” LaVine stated. “Offensively, defensively, we’re disconnected proper now. We’ve to seek out our rhythm in these subsequent two video games.”

Former President Barack Obama attended the sport.

TIP-INS

Celtics: C-F Robert Williams (knee) remained in Boston to assist “expedite the method” of his restoration, Udoka stated. Williams hasn’t performed since March 27, and he was anticipated to be sidelined from 4 to 6 weeks, which might rule him out for the primary spherical of the playoffs.

Bulls: G Alex Caruso was dominated out due to a sore again. “He’s simply not transferring like he usually does,” stated Donovan, including that Caruso has been dealing with the residual results of a sore wrist he fractured on Jan. 21. G Matt Thomas (proper leg bruise) additionally was dominated out.

UP NEXT

Celtics: At Milwaukee on Thursday evening.

Bulls: Vs. Charlotte on Friday evening.