CHICAGO -- Back-to-back victories may not seem like the biggest of
accomplishments, but in a season in which the Chicago Bulls are
experiencing plenty of growing pains and toll-taking injuries, even
small successes carry some weight.
After a weekend in which Chicago managed to snap a 10-game losing
streak and hold on for a pair of closely contested wins, the heavy
lifting continues tonight when the Bulls host the Boston Celtics
at the United Center.
The Celtics (23-5) boast the league's best record while the Bulls
(5-20) possess the league's worst mark. Despite the disparity and
all of the challenges that the Celtics present, Chicago's two-game
winning streak has provided the Bulls with a renewed sense of
confidence after dealing with the 10 consecutive setbacks.
The Bulls slipped past the Hornets 119-111 in overtime at Charlotte
on Friday, then posted a 104-102 home victory over the New York
Knicks on Saturday.
Chicago is benefitting from the return of Nikola Mirotic, who
missed 23 games with facial fractures and a concussion sustained in
a fight with teammate Bobby Portis. After returning to action on
Friday, Mirotic sparked the Bulls with 19 points Saturday.
The Bulls withstood a late-fourth-quarter surge by the Knicks and
made enough plays late to win for the second straight night.
"We've got to keep hopefully building and gain a little confidence
with finding a way to win two close games," Chicago coach Fred
Hoiberg said after the Saturday victory. "Hopefully, we'll get a
little rest for our guys (Sunday) and bounce back with good effort
in what will obviously be an extremely tough game on Monday."
For a team that has already endured its share of adversity,
including the recent lengthy losing streak, using actual victories
as a springboard is a sign that the Bulls haven't lost faith in
themselves while navigating difficult times.
"We've been in a lot of tough games," Chicago guard Kris Dunn said
Saturday. "It just shows that we're starting to get it together
down the stretch (in games)."
Now the Bulls will have to take another step forward against the
league's top team.
The Celtics have won seven of their last nine games, and they
bounced back from a loss at San Antonio on Friday with a 91-81 road
victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.
Boston avoided losing for the second straight game after building a
16-point, fourth-quarter lead. The Celtics weathered a late Pistons
surge while Boston missed 12 straight shots, emerging on top while
giving up season-low point total.
"We were locked in," Celtics forward Aron Baynes said. "Our offense
wasn't as crisp tonight as we wanted it to be, but defensively we
had a game plan and we stuck with it. We were trying to pack the
paint and make them make plays from the outside. Last time, they
really had whatever they wanted inside the paint. Tonight, we
wanted to go out there and control it a lot better."
The Celtics will look to avoid offensive lulls tonight against
the Bulls, who, despite their record, have impressed opposing teams
with their effort. Playing on a short turnaround, Boston will again
be without forward Marcus Morris, who didn't play on Sunday and who
has already been ruled out for tonight due to a left knee injury.
