The Celtics went toe-to-toe with one of of the better teams in the Eastern Conference Sunday night, but in the end fell to the Bulls, 107-102. It was the fourth straight loss for the C's and ninth of their last ten.
Leading 87-86 with just less than seven minutes remaining was the last lead the C's would have as the Bulls went on a 9-3 run over the next four minutes to take control of the game and come away with the win on the road in the first of a back-to-back, home-and-home series.
The C's had six players reach double-figures in points led by Rajon Rondo and Jared Sullinger's double-doubles as Rondo posted 17 points and 11 assists, while Sullinger had 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jeff Green also had 16 points in the losing effort.
Chicago was led by DJ Augustin off the bench who had a career-high 33 points in the win.
The two teams will be back in action Monday night (8:00, CSNNE) in Chicago.
What they'll be saying: Despite losing four in a row and nine of their last ten, the C's continue to show up and play hard every night as they went back-and-forth with the Bulls, currently in fourth place in the East. The Celtics took 17 more shots from the field than the Bulls, but only made three more field goals in the loss. It is the second straight home-and-home series for the C's with it concluding Monday night as Celtics fans will get a special treat as Rondo will sit in as the color analyst during the first quarter of the CSNNE broadcast as he sits out as usual in the second of back-to-back games.
