Chicago plays Boston on 3-game win streak

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Sunday, January 8, 2023

Chicago Bulls (19-21, ninth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (28-12, first in the Eastern Conference)

Boston; Monday, 7:30 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Chicago will try to keep its three-game win streak alive when the Bulls take on Boston.

The Celtics are 15-8 in Eastern Conference games. Boston ranks fifth in the NBA with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Jayson Tatum averaging 7.0.

The Bulls are 16-11 against Eastern Conference opponents. Chicago is seventh in the Eastern Conference with 24.5 assists per game led by DeMar DeRozan averaging 5.0.

The teams square off for the fourth time this season. The Bulls won 121-107 in the last meeting on Nov. 22. DeRozan led the Bulls with 28 points, and Tatum led the Celtics with 28 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Tatum is averaging 30.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown is averaging 26.5 points over the last 10 games for Boston.

Zach LaVine is shooting 40.5% from beyond the arc with 3.1 made 3-pointers per game for the Bulls, while averaging 23.3 points and 4.3 assists. DeRozan is shooting 49.5% and averaging 26.7 points over the last 10 games for Chicago.

LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 6-4, averaging 117.9 points, 47.6 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.9 blocks per game while shooting 46.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.5 points per game.

Bulls: 7-3, averaging 120.6 points, 43.1 rebounds, 22.5 assists, 7.3 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 51.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.9 points.

INJURIES: Celtics: Danilo Gallinari: out for season (knee), Marcus Smart: day to day (knee).

Bulls: Alex Caruso: out (ankle), Javonte Green: out (knee), Tony Bradley: out (health and safety protocols), Lonzo Ball: out (knee).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.