Final: Celtics 122, Bulls 100 - Career shooting night for Porzingis

BOSTON CELTICS (32-15) vs. CHICAGO BULLS (20-17)    

TD Garden, 7:30 p.m. - NBCS Boston

Line: Celtics -14.5

INJURIES

Boston: Jayson Tatum (QUESTIONABLE, knee) Sam Hauser (QUESTIONABLE, hip), Al Horford (QUESTIONABLE, toe)

Chicago: Zach LaVine (OUT, personal reasons), Torrey Craig (OUT, ankle), Coby White (QUESTIONABLE, ankle)

THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. 3-point shooting: The Bulls are one of few teams willing to hoist ‘em with the Celtics. Any time the Bulls have bothered Boston, it’s because someone like Nikola Vucevic is burying shots from deep. The Celtics not only need to generate the good ones, as usual, but they need to minimize what the Bulls are doing at the 3-point line. 

2. More Jaden Springer? He’s been playing well since Joe Mazzulla turned to him in the Clippers game. The Celtics need a defensive spark off the bench, so I say go to him more and hope he can get into a rhythm from 3. This is a great time to get his confidence up. 

3. No let up: The Bulls are shorthanded, so (a) come out strong and (b) don’t let someone like Matas Buzelis build off a nice performance against Denver and turn into the latest random 30-point scorer against Boston. “No let up” means, yes, keep the foot on the gas, but it also means finish off defensive possessions and make the right plays. Don’t let up on possessions. Don’t let up in transition.  

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.