The Chicago Bulls offense continued to struggled as they lost their 5th game in a row. It was also their 6th loss in their last 7 games as the Boston Celtics easily dispatched of the Bulls 100-80 Sunday afternoon on ABC.
The Celtics scored the first 10 points of the game. Boston also scored 15 of the first 17 points of the game as they led rom wire to wire and put the Bulls away very early. The Bulls managed just nine 1st quarter points and where pretty much done from the opening tip. By the end of the 1st quarter the Celtics had a 13 point lead 22-9.
The 2nd quarter wasn’t much Better for Chicago as they scored 17 points in the quarter. The Bulls never got any closer to the lead than 11 points as the Celtics held a double digit lead the entire quarter. Boston took it’s first 20 point lead of the game with 3:58 left in the quarter and 20 points is the lead they held going into halftime at 46-26.
The Bulls did score the first three points of the 3rd quarter and from an offensive stand point they did play better scoring 31 points. Of course with the offense looking like it belonged in the NBA the defense went away as the Celtics scored 30 points in the quarter. Heading into the 4th quarter the Celtics had a 19 point lead 76-57.
With the big lead the Celtics where able to rest some of their top players. Even with some of the starters on the bench for the entire quarter the Celtics still managed to outscored the Bulls 24-23 in the quarter. At one point the Bulls found themselves down 25 points, but in the end they lost by just 20 points 100-80.
Isaiah Thomas was the games leading scorer with 22 points. Thomas got in points in just 24 minutes of game action. Avery Bradley had 17 while Al Horford added 12 points. Horford also tied for the games top assists honors handing out 6. Three players came off the Celtics bench to score in double figures. Marcus Smart had 12 points while Jaylen Brown and Kelly Olynyk each scored 11 points. Jae Crowder also grabbed a game high 10 rebounds for Boston.
The Bulls where led by Robin Lopez and Denzel Valentine who each scored 13 points. Bobby Portis scored 12 points and grabbed a team high 8 rebounds. Cristiano Felicio also added 10 points. Rajon Rondo had 6 assists to tie for the top honors in that category.
With the win Boston improves to 42-25. The Celtics get a couple of days off before they host the 27-38 Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. The Bulls fall to 31-35 with the loss. This was the first of a back to back set of games for the Bulls as they’ll head to Charlotte to face the 29-37 Hornets on Monday night.
Sports Time Radio 