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Boston earned its second straight victory
following a three-game losing streak. Chicago sputtered to its
seventh loss in eight games despite a game-high 30 points from
Zach LaVine.
Enes Kanter (15 points), Kemba Walker (14), Marcus Smart (12)
and Grant Williams (11) followed in double figures for the
Celtics, who shot 47 percent compared to 45.7 percent for the
Bulls. Kanter grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Boston led by as many as 18 and held its ground after the Bulls
slashed the deficit to 75-69 on a LaVine trey with 1:42 to go in
the third quarter. The Celtics scored eight of the next 10
points to close the quarter and begin to pull away.
Thaddeus Young scored 17 points for Chicago, while Tomas
Satoransky (12) and Daniel Gafford (10) also produced
double-figure totals.
A sluggish start ultimately caught up to Chicago, which scored
just 14 points in the first quarter, its lowest-scoring opening
quarter of the season. The Bulls had five field goals and four
turnovers in the first 12 minutes while allowing Boston to
convert a three-point play off a tip-in from a missed free
throw.
Boston shot 52.5 percent (21-for-40) in the first half to take a
55-37 lead into the break. Kanter led the way with 15 points on
7-for-8 shooting while pulling down seven rebounds. Young had
nine first-half points and LaVine had eight to pace Chicago,
which shot 34.2 percent and was 1-for-13 from long range before
intermission.
Strong ball movement boosted the Celtics throughout the first 24
minutes. The Celtics had 14 assists on 21 made field goals while
committing just five turnovers.
Kanter started in place of Daniel Theis, who was sidelined due
to right knee soreness. Williams sustained a sore left shoulder
late in the second quarter but was available to return.
Chicago fell to 1-16 this season against foes with records of
.500 or better, including 0-2 against the Celtics, who edged the
Bulls by seven points at United Center on Jan. 4.
--Field Level Media
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