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Celtics hope to get back on track against Bulls

Mar 17, 2009 - 8:38 AM By Anthony Giornalista Stats Senior Writer

Boston (50-17) at Chicago (30-37) 8:30 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (AP) -- With Kevin Garnett hurt, the Boston Celtics haven't been playing like top contenders. Still, they fall right in line with the quality opponents that have made the Chicago Bulls' run at home so impressive.

Coming off perhaps their worst loss of the season, the Celtics look to end the Bulls' five-game run at the United Center and win their seventh straight in the series Tuesday night.

Boston (50-17) is 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the top spot in the Eastern Conference, but a 6-5 stretch without Garnett (sprained right knee) has hurt its chances of catching the Cavaliers. Garnett isn't expected to return until Friday night against San Antonio at the earliest.

The Celtics have lost three of four and set their season low for points in an 86-77 defeat to Milwaukee on Sunday. They've been held to less than 80 points in two of their last four games.

"With 25 turnovers, we gave up 21 offensive rebounds, we held them to 32 percent shooting and we lost the game," Boston center Kendrick Perkins said. "We just can't win like that."

Now the Celtics will face a Bulls team that's in a tie with Milwaukee for eighth place in the East thanks largely to its play at home.

Chicago has lost its last seven road games, but five wins in a row at the United Center have shown it can play with some of the league's best clubs. The Bulls have beaten Denver, Orlando, Houston and New Orleans during their longest streak at home since winning seven in a row in the 2006-07 season.

After being swept on a three-game trip, Chicago returned home and beat the Hornets 97-79 on Saturday night.

"It just shows what we can be, how good a team we actually can be, if we come out every night the same way," Bulls swingman John Salmons said.

Chicago, though, has lost six straight against Boston since the Celtics acquired Garnett from Minnesota before last season. The Bulls won the previous eight matchups.

"Every game is different and presents different problems," Chicago coach Vinny Del Negro said. "As long as you come out with energy and toughness and grit, good things will happen. ... Now we have the Celtics coming in. Boston, as we know, presents a lot of problems."

The Celtics won their first two games against the Bulls this season. This will be the teams' last matchup of the regular season, although they could end up meeting in the first round of the playoffs.

Postseason availability is Boston's main concern with Garnett, as the Celtics need the veteran big man healthy enough for a run at a second straight championship. Boston has also been playing without reserves Glen Davis, Tony Allen and Brian Scalabrine.

The Celtics' rotation was even thinner down the stretch against the Bucks, with Leon Powe fouling out with 5:04 left in the third. He finished with five points and six rebounds after scoring a career-high 30 points in a 102-92 win over Memphis on Friday night.

Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the Celtics' top scorers, also struggled.

Pierce, averaging 20.2 points, was held to 15 on 4-for-15 shooting. Allen, scoring 18.4 points a contest, had eight while going 2-for-11.

Allen averaged 27.0 points in his previous three games. He'll be matched up with Bulls shooting guard Ben Gordon, who had 27 points versus New Orleans after totaling 13 in his previous two contests.