Even on their less-than-best nights throughout a successful streak that lasted greater than two weeks, the Celtics discovered methods to win. They overcame a late double-digit deficit, fueled by their bench, to beat the Thunder final week. Shorthanded a number of occasions resulting from accidents, they figured it out.
But the magic ran out on Monday night time in Chicago.
All good issues come to an finish, and the Celtics had been due for a foul night time. An uncharacteristically poor 3-point taking pictures night time, constant effort points on protection, and off nights from a number of of their regulars – together with Al Horford’s worst offensive night time in latest reminiscence. The C’s couldn’t overcome any of it as their struggles continued towards the Bulls with a 121-107 loss, snapping their nine-game successful streak.
The first-place Celtics (13-4) have solely misplaced two video games this season in regulation, and each have come towards the Bulls in Chicago. The different two losses have been in time beyond regulation to the Cavaliers.
Jayson Tatum had 28 factors, 11 rebounds and 7 assists, Jaylen Brown posted 25 factors and Malcolm Brogdon scored 23 factors with six assists as he ignited a number of late comeback makes an attempt, however the Bulls had each counterpunch down the stretch.
The Celtics trailed by as many as 21 within the third quarter and by double digits for many of the fourth, however Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla appeared intent on shrinking his rotation and taking part in his finest regulars down the stretch in hopes of pulling off a comeback. It practically paid off.
Brogdon was instrumental in bringing the Celtics again, drilling a 3 to finish the third as he scored and assisted on 12 consecutive Boston factors to tug their deficit to inside eight early within the fourth. The Bulls responded and restored their result in 15 earlier than Brogdon tried to will them again once more, discovering Brown for a layup after which drilling a 3 from the wing to make it an eight-point sport. But that’s as shut as they acquired as turnovers led to simple baskets for the Bulls. DeMar DeRozan, who scored 28 factors, and Zach Lavine shortly pushed Chicago’s lead again to double digits and the Celtics couldn’t get well once more.
“I think we turned the ball over a few times, and that might have killed our momentum,” Brogdon informed reporters in Chicago. “We were getting shots, we were playing with pace, we were getting stops, but we turned the ball over and I think they got easy dunks. They weren’t even transition layups, they were dunks, and that killed our momentum, I think.”
The Bulls had been the extra determined staff on Monday – after they’d misplaced 4 consecutive video games and coping with some unrest after LaVine lately voiced his displeasure about being benched – and it confirmed. The Celtics lacked power from the soar, and it was mirrored on each ends of the court docket as they started the sport 1-for-8 taking pictures. They went 5-for-17 from deep with six turnovers within the first quarter, they usually confirmed little resistance on protection. The Celtics trailed by 13 at halftime, their largest deficit on the break all season.
“I thought we didn’t come out and play with the energy we needed to,” Brogdon informed reporters in Chicago. “They came out, they were ready to play. They’re going through some things over there, so I think they’re trying to get more locked in, they’re trying to win some games. I feel like they think their backs are against the wall, so they played with urgency tonight and I don’t think we played with that urgency.”
At halftime, Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudemire informed NBC Sports Boston that the staff’s depth was missing and that they wanted to play tougher on the defensive finish. The C’s got here out of halftime by forcing the Bulls right into a shot-clock violation, however couldn’t carry that momentum. The Bulls scored on three consecutive driving layups or dunks as they fell behind into an insurmountable deficit.
The Celtics gave the impression to be turning a nook defensively over their final a number of video games, however took a step again on Monday. Brogdon thought there was a correlation with their incapacity to hit photographs. The Celtics have rode the most effective 3-point taking pictures mark within the league to gas their NBA-best offense however weren’t as much as customary on Monday.
They went 8-for-26 from deep within the first half as they launched 50 triples on the night time – their second-most of the season – however solely related on 19, which included an 0-for-7 efficiency from Horford. That affected their protection, Brogdon stated.
“It definitely does,” Brogdon stated. “I think we’re such a high-level shooting team from the arc. We rely on that, and I think we need more balance, especially if those 3s aren’t falling, if we’re not making shots out there. We have to be able to play inside the arc and still defend, for sure. That’s one thing that can’t slip regardless of how we’re shooting the ball on the offensive end.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com