Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, left, drives against Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) AP
CHICAGO (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 25 points, Al Horford added 17 on 7-of-7 shooting and the Boston Celtics routed the Chicago Bulls 117-94 on Wednesday night for their 50th victory.
The Celtics have won three in a row and are 27-6 since Jan. 22. They can wrap up the second spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs Thursday night with a victory at Milwaukee.
Jayson Tatum scored 16 points for Boston. He was 5 of 18 from the field, making only one of eight from 3-point range.
The Bulls have lost two straight. They claimed a playoff berth Tuesday.
DeMar DeRozan scored 16 points for Chicago, and Nikola Vucevic added 13 points. Vucevic had four of the Bulls’ 17 turnovers.
The Celtics had a 16-4 run midway through the first quarter to take a 31-14 lead. They shot 57.8% in the first half, going 9 of 18 from 3-point range. Reserve guard Payton Pritchard was 3-for-3 from long distance in the second quarter.
Coming off a home loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday night, the Bulls committed 10 turnovers in the first half. Their frontline depth was weakened when forward Patrick Williams committed his fourth foul with 4:31 left in the second quarter.
Bulls guard Zach LaVine was 1 of 5 from the filed in the first quarter, didn’t attempt a shot in the second quarter and finished 2 of 9. He had seven points.
Former President Barack Obama attended the game.
TIP-INS
Celtics: C-F Robert Williams (knee) remained in Boston to help “expedite the process” of his recovery, coach Ime Udoka said. Williams hasn’t played since March 27, and he was expected to be sidelined from four to six weeks, which would rule him out for the first round of the playoffs.
Bulls: G Alex Caruso was ruled out because of a sore back. “He’s just not moving like he normally does,” said Billy Donovan, adding that Caruso has been coping with the residual effects of a sore wrist he fractured on Jan. 21. G Matt Thomas (right leg bruise) also was ruled out.
UP NEXT
Celtics: At Milwaukee on Thursday night.
Bulls: Vs. Charlotte on Friday night.
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