Preview: Celtics Wrap Up Road Trip in Chicago, Face-Off vs LaVine, Bulls
Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo | Getty Images
After demolishing the Magic in their last game, the Celtics will wrap up their road trip tonight. They will take on the Chicago Bulls for the third and final time this season.
HOW TO WATCH
Location: United Center, Chicago, Ill.
Time: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Channel(s): NBC Sports Boston
PLAYER STATS
The Bulls are led in scoring by first-time All-Star Zach LaVine. He is putting up 27.2 a night. Nikola Vucevic is second since joining the team, averaging 22.6 points and 11.0 rebounds. Coby White (14.9), Lauri Markkanen (13.8), Thaddeus Young (12.1), and former Celtic Daniel Theis (10.0) round out the team’s double-digit scorers.
Kemba Walker shined in his return to the court last game, putting up 32 points, which tied his season-high. Boston is still led by Jayson Tatum, who is putting up 26.5 points a night. The C’s also have seven players on the roster shooting 38% or better from deep this season - Payton Pritchard (42.4%), Jaylen Brown (39.7%), Evan Fournier (39.3%), Tatum (39.1%), Aaron Nesmith (38.5%), and Semi Ojeleye (38.0%).
RECENT GAMES
Chicago has been struggling lately, dropping six of their last ten games. This includes losing four of their last five as well. They sit at 27-39 on the season, good for 11th in the Eastern Conference. They are 4.5 games out of the tenth seed, meaning their playoff hopes are nearly out the window.
Meanwhile, the Celtics are 5-5 in their last ten games. Despite this, they have taken home a victory in three of their last four. Boston is 35-31 on the season, placing them in sixth in the Eastern Conference. They are tied with Miami in terms of record but hold the tiebreaker over them so far this season. Atlanta is only one game ahead of the C’s in fifth place.
INJURIES
The Bulls have most of their players back from injury tonight, with LaVine finally expected to make his return to the court. Troy Brown Jr. (ankle) is the only player listed on their injury report.
The C’s are not as lucky, unfortunately. Brown remains out for this game as he deals with a sprained ankle. On top of that, Robert Williams (turf toe), Tristan Thompson (chest), and Romeo Langford (concussion protocols) are all listed as questionable.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Boston dropped their last game against Chicago, one most people had penciled in as an easy victory. That was when the Bulls were without LaVine. Vucevic dropped 29 on very efficient shooting. Dealing with the offensive onslaught of those two guys will be priority number one tonight. Boston’s defense will have to play with a ton of intensity.
Going along with that fact, Boston’s backup big men will have to step up tonight. With their go-to guys, Thompson and Williams, both questionable, Luke Kornet and Grant Williams are going to have to shine. Vucevic is an absolute beast, so stopping him will not only be a huge challenge for these guys but a necessity.
Lastly, let’s see another great performance from Walker. He tied his season-high last game with Brown out, so it will be important for him to continue that hot stretch. He and Fournier have looked really solid lately, and having that production will be huge for the C’s down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs.
PREGAME SHOW
Make sure to tune in to our live pregame show, “The Banner Town Build Up.” We are live 30 minutes before every Celtics game @GuyBostonSports on YouTube and Facebook. See you there at 7:00 p.m. (EST) tonight!
