+5
The Bulls (23-6) can maintain their supremacy over the Eastern Conference with another road victory over the Celtics (14-12).
The Chicago Bulls had their five-game losing streak snapped Sunday, as they lost to the Boston Celtics, 95-89, in an Eastern Conference showdown. The loss drops the Bulls to 23-7 overall and allowed them to lose a 1/2 game on the idle Indiana Pacers in the Central Division standings.
The only other Central Division rival in action Sunday was the Detroit Pistons, who lost to the Washington Wizards, 98-77.
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Behind a 29-point, 15-assist performance from point guard Rajon Rondo, the Boston Celtics cruised past the visiting Chicago Bulls, 95-91, in an Eastern Conference contest at the TD Arena in Boston. Forward Kevin Garnett added 13 points in 12 rebounds for the Celtics (15-12), who even the season-series at a game apiece.
Trailing must as much as 14 points in the fourth quarter, the Bulls (23-7) battled back to pull withing three, 91-88, with under a minute to go. Chicago had a shot to tie the game with less than 30 seconds to go, but C.J. Watson missed a contested, fade-away jumper just inside the 3-point line.
Boston gained possession and cemented the victory with two free throws each from Rondo and Garnett.
The Bulls had their five-game winning streak snapped as they just couldn't over come the hot shooting of Boston, which finished the game making 49.3-percent of its shots.
Carlos Boozer tallied a team-best 22 points and seven rebounds for Chicago, which played without point guard Derrick Rose who is battling back issues. Rose is expected to see a specialist in Chicago on Monday. Watson also tallied 22, while Joakim Noah had 16 and nine rebounds.
Luckily, the Bulls begin a six-game home stand starting with the Sacramento Kings Tuesday. On Thursday, the Celtics come into town, while Saturday the New Jersey Nets visit.
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The Bulls got off to a slow start Sunday against the Boston Celtics, but made a nice surge to pull within five points at the half. Chicago is playing without the services of reigning MVP Derrick Rose.
Joakim Noah leads the Bulls at half with 12 points and six rebounds, CJ Watson started in place for Rose and has eight points for the Bulls.
Fellow all-star Luol Deng only has one point so far in this game.
Boston is being led by Rajon Rondo, who is taking full advantage of Rose not playing. Rondo has 16 points and six assists at the half.
The Bulls are shooting only 34 percent from the field while Boston is an impressive 55 percent.
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Bulls star point guard Derrick Rose will not play Sunday against the Boston Celtics. Rose has been bothered by back spasms the past few weeks. The all-star missed Friday’s game against the Charlotte Bobcats, and also had reduced minutes against the New Orleans Hornets and New Jersey Nets.
This is a smart move for both the Bulls and Rose. Chicago is dominating so far this season so of most importance is getting Rose healthy and rested for the playoffs.
C.J. Watson will start in Rose’s place. Shooting guard Richard Hamilton will also miss Sunday’s game against the Celtics. The Bulls starting two guard has been out with a sore groin and will most likely miss another week.
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Despite fighting every night to stay above .500, the Boston Celtics are still a team that others in the NBA use as a measuring stick. With that in mind, the Chicago Bulls would certainly like a road win against the Celtics this afternoon, which would be their second of the season after they took down the Celtics in Boston in mid-January.
Boston, who has had an up-and-down season, is currently reeling once again, coming off back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Lakers, and more troubling, the Toronto Raptors. But the Celtics have shown the ability this season to reel off winning streaks just as it seems like things are about to fly off the rails, and they to will be looking too prove themselves against an elite conference team on national television.
It's unclear whether or not Chicago point guard Derrick Rose will play on Sunday, but one would presume that he was held out of Friday night's thrashing of the Charlotte Bobcats so that he could be as healthy as possible for today's game vs. the Celtics. In the January match up vs. the Celtics, Rose— again coming off an injury— scored 25 on 9-21 shooting, but was responsible for a few backbreaking highlight reel layups late in the game.
Game date/time: Sunday, February 12, 2012, 2:30 p.m. CST
Location: TD Garden, Boston, Mass.
TV: ABC
Radio: ESPN 1000 AM
Odds: Bulls by three.
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Derrick Rose Injury Update: Point Guard Will See Specialist Monday
Derrick Rose has been bothered by a back injury since the start of Chicago's nine-game road trip, and he's either been limited or had to skip games over the last week. Rose will see a specialist about the injury on Monday in Chicago and says he's just trying to keep a positive attitude about the ordeal.
Related: Celtics Vs. Bulls Final Score: Chicago Falls To Boston, 95-91
Despite Rose's troubles, the Bulls won six of nine games on their road trip.
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Feb 13 7:15a by Steven Muma