Bulls Beat Celtics 101-92
CHICAGO -- All five starters scored in double figures for the Chicago Bulls, who extended their season-high winning streak to six games with a 101-92 victory against the Boston Celtics on Thursday at the United Center.
Guard Jimmy Butler and center Pau Gasol each had double-doubles to lead the Bulls (22-12). Butler finished with 19 points and 10 assists, while center Pau Gasol had 17 points and 18 rebounds for his 19th double-double this season.
Chicago also got double-digit scoring from point guard Derrick Rose (18 points), power forward Taj Gibson (10 points), forward Nikola Mirotic (11 points) and reserve guard Tony Snell (10 points).
Seven players, including all starters, finished with double figures scoring for the Celtics (19-17), who were coached by assistant Jay Larranaga while head coach Brad Stevens visited a hospitalized former player he coached at Butler University.
Forward Jae Crowder (17 points) and center Kelly Olynyk (16 points) and led the way for Boston, which has dropped its last two games and four of the last five.
Guard Isaiah Thomas (14 points, forward Amir Johnson (12 points), guard Evan Turner (10 points), center Jared Sullinger (13 points) and guard Marcus Smart (10 points) also reached double figures for the Celtics.
The Bulls, who came into the game averaging 102.2 points, scored 100-plus points in their ninth straight game.
Trailing 43-33 late in the second quarter, Chicago outscored Boston 15-4 in the final four minutes of the second to lead 48-47 at halftime. The Bulls extended the margin to as much as 61-49 in the third and never trailed again.
Chicago started the game with a 6-2 lead on two jump shots by Gasol and a Rose layup, but Boston countered with a 12-3 run. The Celtics stayed in front the rest of the quarter and led 27-21 at the end of the first, paced by Olynyk's 10 points.
NOTES: The Boston Celtics did not have coach Brad Stevens on the bench for their game. A Celtics representative confirmed Stevens is visiting Andrew Smith, who played for Stevens at Butler from 2009-12, including the Bulldogs' 2010 and 2011 Final Four appearances. Smith, 25, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in January 2014. ... Bulls F Mike Dunleavy (back) missed his 34th game and has yet to play this season. ... Bulls C Joakim Noah missed his eighth game with a left shoulder sprain and ninth game of the season. Chicago coach Fred Hoiberg said Noah needs to experience contact in practice before returning, and could do that soon. ... Celtics G Avery Bradley missed his third straight game because of a sore left hip.
