Gasol Helps Bulls Beat Celtics 109-104 In OT
CHICAGO (AP) -- Pau Gasol had 29 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Boston Celtics 109-104 in overtime on Saturday.
Aaron Brooks added 19 points for the Bulls, who won for the ninth time in 10 games. Taj Gibson and Derrick Rose had 12 points apiece.
Evan Turner scored 24 of his 29 points after halftime, but Boston dropped to 2-6 since trading Rajon Rondo to Dallas on Dec. 18. Avery Bradley had 17 points for the Celtics.
The Bulls were without starters Jimmy Butler (bereavement leave) and Mike Dunleavy (right ankle). Rookie Nikola Mirotic scored 10 points in his first start, and Kirk Hinrich replaced Butler for the Bulls' ninth different starting lineup of the season.
The Celtics were coming off a 119-101 loss to Rondo and the Mavericks on Friday night. Jared Sullinger scored 16 points in Boston's fourth consecutive road loss.
Rose stole the ball and passed to Joakim Noah, who found Gasol for a layup for a 103-99 lead with 2:21 left in overtime. Two Gasol free throws and a Rose layup extended the lead to 107-103 with 24.4 seconds left. The Bulls then held on despite going 2 for 4 at the line in the final eight seconds.
It was Gasol's 17th double-double in his first season with the Bulls, who shot 37 percent from the field and committed 18 turnovers. The Celtics shot 45 percent and turned the ball over 22 times.
A Gasol jumper and free throw gave the Bulls a 98-95 lead with 1:13 left in regulation. Green made two free throws to cut the lead to one with 1:08 remaining. Gibson was fouled with 22.7 seconds left and made one of two free throws, and Sullinger scored on a putback with 2.6 seconds left to tie it at 99.
Brooks missed a 3 at the buzzer.
Gasol's 3 gave the Bulls a 52-42 lead with 10:29 left in the third before the Celtics went on a 25-7 run for a 67-59 lead. Mirotic's three-point play tied it at 69.
The Bulls improved to 10-6 at home.
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