Bildnummer: 13465853 Datum: 23.04.2013 Copyright: imago/Icon SMI 23 April 2013: Boston Celtics point guard Avery Bradley (0) looks to get past New York Knicks point guard Pablo Prigioni (9) during game two of the first round of the NBA Basketball Herren USA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY The Knicks defeated the Celtics 87-71 to lead the series 2-0. NBA Basketball Herren USA APR 23 Eastern Conference First Round - Celtics at Knicks - Game 2 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY Icon781130423161; x0x xkg 2013 quer Image number 13465853 date 23 04 2013 Copyright imago Icon Smi 23 April 2013 Boston Celtics Point Guard Avery Bradley 0 looks to Get Past New York Knicks Point Guard Pablo Prigioni 9 during Game Two of The First Round of The NBA Basketball men USA Eastern Conference Playoffs AT Madison Square Garden in New York City NY The Knicks defeated The Celtics 87 71 to Lead The Series 2 0 NBA Basketball men USA APR 23 Eastern Conference First Round Celtics AT Knicks Game 2 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxONLY x0x xkg 2013 horizontal
The Chicago Bulls went on the road and defeated the Boston Celtics 128-114 on Monday night. The Bulls have improved to 6-1 after this game, and the Celtics continue to fall as they are now a disappointing 2-5 to begin the season. Bookies like Points Bet had the Celtics listed at -140 and the Bulls at +120 before the match. Players interested in similar matches can learn more about the games and even take advantage of two risk-free bets using the PointsBet promo code.
On the one hand, The Chicago Bulls are flexing their muscles right now as the top seed in the Eastern Conference and having the highest winning percentage in the entire NBA at this point.
Last night, they were led by veteran small forward DeMar DeRozan, who finished with a game-high 37 points on a highly effective 15-of-20 shooting night while sprinkling in seven rebounds and a pair of assists. Zach LaVine scored 26 points, while Nikola Vucevic was an assist shy of a triple-double last night.
Chicago made a huge comeback late in the third quarter, and they were trailing by 17 points. However, their defense stepped up and allowed just 11 points in the fourth quarter to seize control of the game.
The Bulls are fifth in the NBA as they are giving up 101 points per game this season, and they showed exactly how in the fourth. This team could be scary as they gain more chemistry with one another and get even better.
On the other hand, the offense of the Boston Celtics has not been a problem this season as they are scoring 113.9 points per game thus far. Last night, they were led by shooting guard Jaylen Brown’s 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting while small forward Jayson Tatum and center Al Horford also contributed with 20 points apiece.
The Celtics did not score for the first 3:50 of the fourth quarter and only had 11 points in the entire quarter after scoring 103 in the first three-quarters of the game. The combination of Tatum and Brown finished the fourth quarter 1-of-10 for two points and can’t let that happen if they want to win games.
They have a huge glaring problem: they cannot defend people. They are last in the entire NBA as they are allowing 119.7 points per game this season. They were doing well last night as they gave up 89 points through three quarters but then fell back on old habits and allowed 39 points in the final frame.
You should not be anywhere near the league’s bottom when you have players like Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum in your starting lineup. Boston needs to get going because they have already begun to dig themselves a tiny hole, and with each loss, it’s only going to make it more challenging to reach the playoffs once again this season.
This can be the real test for Chicago to prove they are contenders against two of the tougher teams that the NBA has to offer right now.