Bulls at Celtics
THE STORY: The Chicago Bulls have finally reached the last stop on their nine-game road trip. The on-court results have been strong, as the Bulls will take a five-game winning streak into TD Garden, but it has come at a cost. Derrick Rose is dealing with back spasms and sat out Friday’s 95-64 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. The Boston Celtics were riding high with a five-game winning streak but have fallen off with back-to-back losses, including a terrible effort at Toronto on Friday. Two of the best defensive teams in the NBA, Chicago and Boston both attempt to grind opponents down.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC
ABOUT THE BULLS (23-6): With or without Rose, Chicago has no problem shutting teams down. Rose played limited minutes in the two previous games before sitting Friday and the Bulls surrendered an average of 72.7 points in the three games. Joakim Noah has stepped up lately, averaging 12.6 points on 68 percent shooting and 10.8 rebounds over the last five games. Chicago has already won at TD Garden this season, claiming an 88-79 triumph on Jan. 13 behind 25 points from Rose and 21 points and 16 rebounds from Luol Deng. The Bulls have won their last four games by an average of 24.5 points.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (14-12): Just when it looked as though Boston had turned the corner, it has come to a halt. The Celtics got up for the rival Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday and ended up falling 88-87 in overtime. A road trip to lowly Toronto the next night should have been an easy bounce-back win, but instead the Celtics displayed little effort in an 86-74 setback. The offense has been the biggest problem for Boston, which has not scored over 100 points since the second game of the season.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The Bulls have taken the last three meetings in the series while holding the Celtics to an average of 79.7 points.
2. Boston C Jermaine O’Neal (shoulder) missed Friday’s game. He is day-to-day.
3. Rose will be a game-time decision on Sunday.