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Bulls-Celtics Preview

Jan 14, 2010 - 5:08 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Chicago (16-20) at Boston (26-10), 8:00 p.m. EDT

With a healthy lineup, the Boston Celtics have had no trouble beating the Chicago Bulls this season. As indicated last spring, this matchup can have an entirely different outcome with Kevin Garnett out.

On Thursday night, the Celtics hope to overcome the void left by Garnett, who is slated to miss his eighth straight game, as they host a Bulls team that pushed them to the limit in last season's playoffs.

Boston (27-10) opened 2009-10 in impressive fashion, winning 23 of its first 28 games to move to the top of the Eastern Conference, but a rash of injuries to its top players suddenly spoiled that fast start.

Garnett, Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace and Rajon Rondo have all missed time over the past 2 1/2 weeks with the Celtics dropping five of nine. Pierce and Rondo have since returned, but Garnett (right knee) and Wallace (sore left foot) could be out another week.

Pierce and Rondo led the Celtics to an easy 111-87 win over league-worst New Jersey on Wednesday. Pierce had 24 points in 28 minutes, while Rondo finished with 11 points and 14 assists for Boston, which led 71-35 at halftime and allowed most of its starters to rest after the break.

"With a tough back-to-back coming and we're down on bodies, a team that's been struggling, our whole thought was if we can get off to a good start maybe we could get other guys rest," coach Doc Rivers said.

The Celtics hope to build on this win against a Chicago team they've already overpowered twice this season. Boston led by as many as 31 in a 118-90 victory over the Bulls on Oct. 30, and had seven players in double figures in a 106-80 win in Chicago on Dec. 12.

Still, the Celtics probably won't be taking the Bulls lightly.

With Garnett sidelined for last season's playoffs due to a right knee injury, the Celtics were put to the test by Chicago in a first-round series, needing seven games to eliminate the seventh-seed in one of the more thrilling postseason series in NBA history.

The Bulls (16-20) arrive in Boston having won back-to-back games, but both were against lesser opponents.

Following Saturday's 110-96 win over Minnesota, Chicago defeated Detroit 120-87 on Monday, setting a season high in points and largest margin of victory.

"We're doing a good job of moving (the ball)," said Luol Deng, who scored 27 points on 13 of 18 shooting against the Pistons. "Guys are healthy, were finding a rhythm of how to play together and we just got to keep doing that."

While the Bulls have had no problem beating up on two of the league's worst teams, that task might not be easy even against a short-handed Celtics club.

Chicago, which has shot 54.5 percent in its last two games, was limited to just 36.8 percent shooting in the losses to Boston, one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.

John Salmons has scored 31 points on 12 of 20 shooting in Chicago's brief run, but has really struggled against the Celtics. Salmons came up huge for the Bulls in last season's playoffs, averaging 18.1 points, but has combined for only 12 on 4 of 21 shooting versus Boston this season.

This game begins a difficult portion of the schedule for Chicago, which plays 10 of its next 12 away from the United Center. The Bulls have dropped 10 of 11 away from Chicago and are 3-13 on the road this season.