Celtics rout Bulls for 50th, close in on No. 2 spot in East
CHICAGO (AP) Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Al Horford added 17 on 7-of-7 shooting and the Boston Celtics routed the Chicago Bulls 117-94 on Wednesday night for their 50th victory.
The Celtics have won three in a row and are 27-6 since Jan. 22. They can wrap up the second spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs Thursday night with a victory at Milwaukee.
''It's a pretty simple formula,'' Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. ''Play defense at an elite level. Share the ball, be unselfish on offense. And the results are there.''
Jayson Tatum scored 16 points for Boston. He was 5 of 18 from the field, making only one of eight from 3-point range.
The Bulls have lost two straight. They claimed a playoff berth Tuesday.
DeMar DeRozan scored 16 points for Chicago, and Nikola Vucevic added 13 points. Vucevic had four of the Bulls' 17 turnovers.
''I think what happens is when you're winning, you have a false sense of reality of who you are,'' Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. ''And when you're losing, you have a false sense of reality of who you are.''
The Celtics had a 16-4 run midway through the first quarter to take a 31-14 lead. They shot 57.8% in the first half, going 9 of 18 from 3-point range. Reserve guard Payton Pritchard was 3-for-3 from long distance in the second quarter.
Coming off a home loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday night, the Bulls committed 10 turnovers in the first half. Their frontline depth was weakened when forward Patrick Williams committed his fourth foul with 4:31 left in the second quarter.
Bulls guard Zach LaVine was 1 of 5 from the filed in the first quarter, didn't attempt a shot in the second quarter and finished 2 of 9. He had seven points.
''It's hard to play when we're disconnected like this, and the results show,'' LaVine said. ''Offensively, defensively, we're disconnected right now. We have to find our rhythm in these next two games.''
Former President Barack Obama attended the game.
TIP-INS
Celtics: C-F Robert Williams (knee) remained in Boston to help ''expedite the process'' of his recovery, Udoka said. Williams hasn't played since March 27, and he was expected to be sidelined from four to six weeks, which would rule him out for the first round of the playoffs.
Bulls: G Alex Caruso was ruled out because of a sore back. ''He's just not moving like he normally does,'' said Donovan, adding that Caruso has been coping with the residual effects of a sore wrist he fractured on Jan. 21. G Matt Thomas (right leg bruise) also was ruled out.
UP NEXT
Celtics: At Milwaukee on Thursday night.
Bulls: Vs. Charlotte on Friday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Daniel Theis vs. Nikola Vucevic (Ayo Dosunmu gains possession) | |||
11:40 | Nikola Vucevic misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
11:38 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
11:20 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point dunk (Al Horford assists) | 2-0 | |
11:07 | Zach LaVine misses three point step back jump shot | |||
11:04 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
10:56 | +3 | Al Horford makes three point jump shot (Marcus Smart assists) | 5-0 | |
10:40 | +2 | DeMar DeRozan makes two point jump shot | 5-2 | |
10:22 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point hook shot (Daniel Theis assists) | 7-2 | |
9:59 | Nikola Vucevic turnover (lost ball) (Al Horford steals) | |||
9:51 | Daniel Theis misses three point jump shot | |||
9:48 | Zach LaVine defensive rebound | |||
9:40 | Zach LaVine turnover (bad pass) (Al Horford steals) | |||
9:37 | Patrick Williams shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
9:37 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 8-2 | |
9:37 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 9-2 | |
9:26 | +2 | DeMar DeRozan makes two point jump shot | 9-4 | |
9:08 | Marcus Smart turnover (bad pass) (Nikola Vucevic steals) | |||
9:01 | Ayo Dosunmu turnover (lost ball) (Jaylen Brown steals) | |||
8:56 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point alley-oop layup (Marcus Smart assists) | 11-4 | |
8:38 | +2 | Patrick Williams makes two point jump shot | 11-6 | |
8:24 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point jump shot (Marcus Smart assists) | 13-6 | |
8:14 | Marcus Smart shooting foul (Zach LaVine draws the foul) | |||
8:14 | +1 | Zach LaVine makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-7 | |
8:14 | +1 | Zach LaVine makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-8 | |
7:57 | Jump ball. Jayson Tatum vs. Ayo Dosunmu (Marcus Smart gains possession) | |||
7:49 | Jayson Tatum misses two point jump shot | |||
7:44 | Al Horford offensive rebound | |||
7:44 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point putback layup | 15-8 | |
7:31 | +2 | Nikola Vucevic makes two point jump shot (Zach LaVine assists) | 15-10 | |
7:15 | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | |||
7:11 | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | |||
7:10 | Marcus Smart misses three point jump shot | |||
7:09 | Zach LaVine defensive rebound | |||
7:09 | Bulls 60 second timeout | |||
6:53 | Zach LaVine misses three point step back jump shot | |||
6:51 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
6:39 | Ayo Dosunmu personal foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | |||
6:34 | Nikola Vucevic shooting foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
6:34 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-10 | |
6:34 | +1 | Jayson Tatum makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-10 | |
6:15 | +2 | Nikola Vucevic makes two point turnaround hook shot (DeMar DeRozan assists) | 17-12 | |
5:56 | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | |||
5:53 | Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound | |||
5:31 | Al Horford blocks Zach LaVine's two point driving layup | |||
5:28 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
5:25 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point layup (Jayson Tatum assists) | 19-12 | |
5:12 | Nikola Vucevic misses two point jump shot | |||
5:09 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
5:00 | +3 | Daniel Theis makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 22-12 | |
4:46 | Patrick Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
4:42 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
4:33 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point jump shot | 24-12 | |
4:20 | +2 | Ayo Dosunmu makes two point floating jump shot | 24-14 | |
3:59 | Jaylen Brown misses two point jump shot | |||
3:55 | Patrick Williams defensive rebound | |||
3:49 | Nikola Vucevic turnover (lost ball) (Jaylen Brown steals) | |||
3:44 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point dunk (Al Horford assists) | 26-14 | |
3:22 | DeMar DeRozan misses two point jump shot | |||
3:20 | Al Horford defensive rebound | |||
3:09 | Patrick Williams personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
3:02 | +3 | Marcus Smart makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Brown assists) | 29-14 | |
2:37 | Coby White misses two point step back jump shot | |||
2:34 | Grant Williams defensive rebound | |||
2:27 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point driving layup | 31-14 | |
2:11 | Grant Williams personal foul (Zach LaVine draws the foul) | |||
2:11 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
2:04 | +2 | Zach LaVine makes two point driving layup | 31-16 | |
2:04 | Grant Williams shooting foul (Zach LaVine draws the foul) | |||
2:04 | +1 | Zach LaVine makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 31-17 | |
1:49 | Jaylen Brown turnover (bad pass) (Coby White steals) | |||
1:45 | Tristan Thompson offensive foul (Off the ball) (Marcus Smart draws the foul) | |||
1:45 | Tristan Thompson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
1:35 | Marcus Smart misses three point jump shot | |||
1:32 | Javonte Green defensive rebound | |||
1:25 | Zach LaVine misses three point step back jump shot | |||
1:20 | Derrick White defensive rebound | |||
1:16 | Jaylen Brown misses two point jump shot | |||
1:12 | DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound | |||
1:08 | DeMar DeRozan turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
1:08 | DeMar DeRozan misses two point jump shot | |||
0:55 | Derrick Jones Jr. personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | |||
0:55 | Derrick White misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:55 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
0:55 | +1 | Derrick White makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-17 | |
0:37 | Derrick Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
0:35 | Javonte Green offensive rebound | |||
0:24 | +2 | Javonte Green makes two point finger roll layup (DeMar DeRozan assists) | 32-19 | |
0:04 | Daniel Theis misses three point jump shot | |||
0:01 | Javonte Green defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:43 | Jayson Tatum misses two point floating jump shot | |||
11:40 | Javonte Green defensive rebound | |||
11:25 | Daniel Theis shooting foul (Coby White draws the foul) | |||
11:25 | +1 | Coby White makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-20 | |
11:25 | +1 | Coby White makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-21 | |
11:08 | +3 | Payton Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 35-21 | |
10:46 | +2 | DeMar DeRozan makes two point jump shot | 35-23 | |
10:29 | +2 | Derrick White makes two point finger roll layup (Jayson Tatum assists) | 37-23 | |
10:29 | Tristan Thompson defensive goaltending violation | |||
10:08 | Derrick White shooting foul (Derrick Jones Jr. draws the foul) | |||
10:08 | Derrick Jones Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:08 | Bulls offensive rebound | |||
10:08 | +1 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-24 | |
9:56 | Payton Pritchard turnover (bad pass) (DeMar DeRozan steals) | |||
9:51 | Jayson Tatum shooting foul (DeMar DeRozan draws the foul) | |||
9:51 | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 37-25 | |
9:51 | +1 | DeMar DeRozan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 37-26 | |
9:28 | Derrick Jones Jr. blocks Derrick White's two point driving layup | |||
9:25 | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | |||
9:23 | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point driving layup | 37-28 | |
9:24 | Celtics 60 second timeout | |||
9:08 | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | |||
9:06 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
9:03 | Jayson Tatum misses three point jump shot | |||
9:01 | Coby White defensive rebound | |||
8:48 | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point alley-oop dunk (Coby White assists) | 37-30 | |
8:32 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point jump shot (Derrick White assists) | 39-30 | |
8:14 | Derrick Jones Jr. turnover (lost ball) (Grant Williams steals) | |||
8:10 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point driving layup (Jayson Tatum assists) | 41-30 | |
8:10 | Bulls 60 second timeout | |||
7:58 | DeMar DeRozan misses two point jump shot | |||
7:57 | Celtics defensive rebound | |||
7:46 | +3 | Payton Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 44-30 | |
7:29 | +3 | Coby White makes three point jump shot (DeMar DeRozan assists) | 44-33 | |
7:14 | +3 | Derrick White makes three point jump shot (Payton Pritchard assists) | 47-33 | |
7:02 | Nikola Vucevic misses three point jump shot | |||
6:59 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
6:51 | Jayson Tatum turnover (lost ball) (Coby White steals) | |||
6:45 | Javonte Green misses two point layup | |||
6:38 | Patrick Williams offensive rebound | |||
6:37 | Coby White turnover (bad pass) (Jayson Tatum steals) | |||
6:34 | Javonte Green blocks Jayson Tatum's two point floating jump shot | |||
6:31 | DeMar DeRozan defensive rebound | |||
6:31 | Patrick Williams turnover (traveling) | |||
6:21 | Patrick Williams personal foul (Grant Williams draws the foul) | |||
6:12 | Coby White personal foul (Derrick White draws the foul) | |||
6:04 | +3 | Payton Pritchard makes three point jump shot (Derrick White assists) | 50-33 | |
5:38 | +2 | Nikola Vucevic makes two point driving hook shot | 50-35 | |
5:16 | Payton Pritchard misses three point jump shot | |||
5:15 | Bulls defensive rebound | |||
5:04 | +3 | Nikola Vucevic makes three point jump shot (Zach LaVine assists) | 50-38 | |
4:48 | Javonte Green blocks Jaylen Brown's two point floating jump shot | |||
4:46 | Ayo Dosunmu defensive rebound | |||
4:40 | Patrick Williams misses two point driving layup | |||
4:38 | Jaylen Brown defensive rebound | |||
4:31 | Patrick Williams shooting foul (Jaylen Brown draws the foul) | |||
4:31 | Jaylen Brown misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:31 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
4:31 | +1 | Jaylen Brown makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 51-38 | |
4:19 | Nikola Vucevic turnover (bad pass) (Marcus Smart steals) | |||
4:13 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point dunk (Jaylen Brown assists) | 53-38 | |
3:59 | +2 | DeMar DeRozan makes two point jump shot | 53-40 | |
3:50 | +2 | Jaylen Brown makes two point dunk (Marcus Smart assists) | 55-40 | |
3:39 | Marcus Smart personal foul (Nikola Vucevic draws the foul) | |||
3:26 | +3 | DeMar DeRozan makes three point jump shot (Zach LaVine assists) | 55-43 | |
3:05 | Jaylen Brown misses two point layup | |||
3:04 | Nikola Vucevic defensive rebound | |||
2:44 | Javonte Green misses three point jump shot | |||
2:41 | Marcus Smart defensive rebound | |||
2:27 | Marcus Smart misses two point driving layup | |||
2:24 | Al Horford offensive rebound | |||
2:24 | +2 | Al Horford makes two point putback layup | 57-43 | |
2:10 | Jaylen Brown personal foul (Derrick Jones Jr. draws the foul) | |||
2:10 | +1 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 57-44 | |
2:10 | +1 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 57-45 | |
1:57 | +3 | Marcus Smart makes three point jump shot (Jayson Tatum assists) | 60-45 | |
1:38 | Derrick Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
1:36 | Jayson Tatum defensive rebound | |||
1:36 | DeMar DeRozan personal foul (Jayson Tatum draws the foul) | |||
1:36 | DeMar DeRozan technical foul | |||
1:36 | Jayson Tatum misses technical free throw 1 of 1 | |||
1:36 | Celtics offensive rebound | |||
1:17 | +2 | Jayson Tatum makes two point finger roll layup | 62-45 | |
1:08 | +2 | Derrick Jones Jr. makes two point dunk (Nikola Vucevic assists) | 62-47 | |
0:56 | +3 | Jayson Tatum makes three point jump shot (Marcus Smart assists) | 65-47 | |
0:45 | +2 | DeMar DeRozan makes two point turnaround jump shot | 65-49 | |
0:33 | Jayson Tatum misses two point finger roll layup | |||
0:33 | Daniel Theis offensive rebound | |||
0:33 | +2 | Daniel Theis makes two point putback layup | 67-49 | |
0:18 | DeMar DeRozan misses two point jump shot | |||
0:18 | Bulls offensive rebound | |||
0:15 | Jump ball. Javonte Green vs. Al Horford (Nikola Vucevic gains possession) | |||
0:14 | +2 | Javonte Green makes two point driving dunk |