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Bulls seek eighth consecutive win against Celtics

Mar 13, 2007 - 2:21 PM Boston (18-44) at Chicago (37-28) 8:30 pm EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Chicago Bulls are becoming increasingly accurate in their drive for the homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Chicago looks to win for the ninth time in 12 games and post its eighth consecutive triumph over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, when the teams conclude a home-and-home series.

After winning three times on a four-game road trip, the Bulls are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, with a 2 1/2 game lead over the Miami Heat.

Despite scoring 70 points in Wednesday's loss to the Heat, the Bulls are averaging 101.2 in their last six outings. Chicago reached the century mark four times in that stretch.

In the Bulls' 94-88 triumph over Boston on Sunday, Kirk Hinrich scored 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, including a pair of three-point plays early in the fourth quarter.

Ben Gordon scored 21 points and Luol Deng added 17 on 8-of-11 shooting. The Bulls nailed 7-of-12 from the arc and shot 51 percent (38-o4-74) for the contest.

Winless against Chicago since January 29, 2005, the Celtics lost for just the second time in seven contests Sunday and slipped to 8-23 at home.

After averaging 25.8 points and 14.0 rebounds in his previous five outings, Al Jefferson managed just 10 and six against the Bulls. Leading scorer Paul Pierce hit just 2-of-14 shots and finished with eight points, snapping a 12-game streak of double-digit performances.