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Celtics shoot for third straight win over Bulls

Mar 7, 2008 - 4:04 PM Chicago (25-36) at Boston (47-12) 8:00 pm EST

BOSTON (Ticker) -- The Boston Celtics hope to avoid a letdown Friday when they host the Chicago Bulls.

The Celtics are coming off a 90-78 home victory over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday in a battle between the teams with the two best records in the NBA.

Boston has already beaten Chicago twice this season in as many meetings, once at home and once on the road.

Sam Cassell could see his first action in a Celtics' uniform Friday. A funeral of a family member was the delay for Cassell's debut after parting ways with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Boston has won six consecutive games overall, including the first four games of the current five-game homestand.

The Celtics, the first team in the league to clinch a playoff berth, are 27-4 at home after winning their last nine games. Last season, Boston finished with a 24-58 record, worst in the Eastern Conference.

The Bulls have won two straight, including a 107-96 home victory over Cleveland on Thursday. Ben Gordon and Luol Deng led six Chicago players in double figures with 23 points each.

The Bulls, 11-21 on the road, are tied for ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings with the Atlanta Hawks. Both teams trail eighth-place New Jersey by one game.