Celtics at Bulls
The Boston Celtics have put it all together on the offensive end of the floor and can extend their winning streak to a season-high five games when they visit the Chicago Bulls on Saturday. After struggling to score on a consistent basis during a 4-8 swoon, the Celtics are averaging 124.5 points during their current 4-0 stretch.
Seven players scored in double figures -- led by Kyrie Irving's 22 points -- in Thursday's 128-100 rout of the New York Knicks at home, as Boston shot a season-high 53.3 percent. "I think we've been doing a great job of just trusting each other, having everybody touch the ball in certain possessions, being aware of what the defense is trying to take away from us and just taking away our mismatches," Irving told reporters. The Bulls picked up their first win under new coach Jim Boylen with Friday's 114-112 triumph over Oklahoma City at home. Lauri Markkanen scored 24 points in his third game since returning from an elbow injury and scored the decisive layup in the closing seconds.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, NBCS Boston, WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE CELTICS (14-10): Guard Jaylen Brown returned from a three-game absence due to a back injury and scored 21 points in 25 minutes off the bench against the Knicks. "Nothing, no different from me," he told reporters when asked about playing in a reserve role. "Basketball is basketball whether it's coming off the bench or walking out of the stands. It's all basketball so you just come out and play." Al Horford added 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots and he's averaging 18 points on 60.5 percent shooting over his last three games.
ABOUT THE BULLS (6-20): Zach LaVine scored 25 points and Justin Holiday chipped in 20 and they teamed with Markkanen to shoot a combined 26-for-42 from the floor and 10-for-19 from 3-point distance. Markkanen is averaging 18.3 points, seven rebounds and two steals after missing the season's first 23 contests, and he's got a big fan in Boylen. "First of all, he cares about the team. He honors the team," Boylen told reporters. "I don't know if it's, you know, playing with his national team or whatever it is but he's such a good teammate. He understands how to play, he has great confidence and him and I have a relationship where I think it's one of those deals where we look at each other and we know, it's just there. And I'm thankful for that."
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Brown had a team-high 18 points as the Celtics rolled to a 111-82 win over the Bulls at home in the first meeting Nov. 14.
2. LaVine averages 26.3 points on the second night of a back-to-back and 25.9 at home.
3. Boston has won four straight meetings overall.