Pre-Gamin’: Celtics at Bulls (7:00 CT) – Broadcast Info, Projected Lineups, What to Watch For

the Chicago Bulls intro during a game at the United Center

If the Chicago Bulls drop tonight’s game to the 13-3 Boston Celtics, they will have already matched last season’s longest losing streak.

Your move, Chicago.

Game Info

Boston Celtics (13-3) at Chicago Bulls (6-10) – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago, and 670 The Score (Radio)

Projected Starters

Chicago Bulls

1. Ayo Dosunmu
2. Zach LaVine
3. DeMar DeRozan
4. Patrick Williams
5. Nikola Vucevic

Injury Report: Lonzo Ball OUT (knee)

Boston Celtics

1. Marcus Smart
2. Derrick White
3. Jaylen Brown
4. Jayson Tatum
5. Al Horford

Injury Report: Robert Williams III OUT (knee), Danilo Gallinari OUT (ACL)

Odds

The Bulls walk into tonight as +6.0 underdogs against the Celtics at PointsBet Illinois Sportsbook and as +5.5 underdogs at the FanDuel Illinois Sportsbook. Click on either link to sign up and pick the Bulls to cover (… or pick the opposite …)!

What to Watch For …

  • Will the Bulls’ “Big 3” answer Billy Donovan’s call for action? The head coach called out his All-Stars ahead of last Friday’s game against Orlando about the team’s slow starts, but they failed – yet again – to keep the Bulls within striking distance. Coming off their worst loss of the season against the Magic and on the brink of a five-game losing streak, let’s hope they have finally gotten the message to up the intensity.
  • Zach LaVine needs to show up. The max player is coming off easily the worst performance of his career against Orlando, shooting 1-14 from the field. It was so bad that Donovan chose to bench him in the waning minutes of what became a close game, and I think we can all agree it was a horrible look for someone who is supposed to be considered the franchise’s centerpiece. The good news is that the last time LaVine was benched, he ended up having one of the best games of his career (*motions toward game-winning 3 against the Hornets in 2019*) … so let’s see what he can do tonight.
  • Ayo Dosunmu loves playing the Celtics. The second-year point guard has averaged 15 points with roughly 4 assists and 4 rebounds over his five games played against the franchise. He was a pivotal part of the Bulls’ victory over this squad in October, dropping 22 points on an absurd 9-10 shooting performance. If the Bulls want to beat this team, some role player is going to have to have a big might. Dosunmu might be the best bet.
  • More in here …
  • written by

    Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

    more bulls news

    Alex Caruso Wins NBA’s Hustle Award Because … Duh

    A Chicago Bulls player was not snubbed! The NBA officially announced on Thursday that Alex Caruso is the winner of the 2023-24 Hustle Award. Each season the league recognizes one player "who makes impactful effort plays that might not appear...

    Overpaying DeMar DeRozan? Marc Eversley, Chicago Sky Tickets, and Other Bulls Bullets

    Being able to watch Coby White is the only reason I wish the Chicago Bulls snuck into the No. 8 seed. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1785746010578305484 Ridiculed for their offseason signing of DeMar DeRozan three years ago, the Chicago Bulls walked away on top....

    Is Marc Eversley a Name to Watch for the Pistons’ Front Office Opening?

    Marc Eversley has been connected to another front-office opening. The Chicago Bulls' GM was recently mentioned as a leading candidate for the Charlotte Hornets' head of basketball operations gig. The organization went on to hire Jeff Peterson from the Brooklyn...

    Andre Drummond Just Had a Rebounding Season Like No Other

    In February, I caught wind of a crazy Andre Drummond stat. The big man was averaging 8.7 rebounds per game despite playing around 17.0 minutes a night. I dug into the Stathead database to see whether or not any other...

    Central Division Battle, NBA’s Second Tax Apron, Ayo’s Shooting Growth, and Other Bulls Bullets

    Our TV broke over this past weekend. How? Great question! Despite being no more than four years old, it suddenly refused to turn on. We'd get some jolts of sound and a few flashes of black on the screen, but...

    Happy 15th Anniversary to the Bulls’ Iconic Triple-OT Win Over the Celtics

    Fifteen years ago today, a Chicago Bulls legend was born. Paul Pierce drove to the middle of the floor in the third OT. As he looked to send the ball into the corner, Joakim Noah was right there to bat...

    Zach LaVine’s Trade Market to Develop Sooner Than Expected?

    Due to his season-ending foot injury, Zach LaVine became an afterthought to finish out the regular season. But that's about to change. Arguably the biggest talking point around the Chicago Bulls this offseason will be the future of LaVine. One...

    2024 NBA Mock Draft: The Draft Field is Coming Into Shape

    The excitement of the NBA Playoffs is gripping the league, but with the regular season behind us and the teams vying for the championship determined, draft night takes on a whole new level of importance. Now that the non-playoff teams...

    Bulls Who Belong in the Playoffs, Youth Movement, Early Entry Candidates, and Other Bulls Bullets

    The more I watch the NBA playoffs, the more I think about how many players on the Chicago Bulls' roster probably deserve to be there. To be sure, the team as a whole doesn't belong in the postseason. We can...

    Jamal Murray Posterized LeBron James, Hit Game Winner to End Lakers’ Season

    Jamal Murray ended the Los Angeles Lakers season on Monday night. The Denver Nuggets star lived up to his playoff persona in Game 4, scoring 32 points with 7 assists in 41 minutes of action. Murray had 12 of those...

    Latest News

    Alex Caruso Wins NBA’s Hustle Award Because … Duh

    A Chicago Bulls player was not snubbed! The NBA officially announced on Thursday that Alex Caruso is the winner of the 2023-24 Hustle Award. Each season the league recognizes one player "who makes impactful effort plays that might not appear...

    Pascal Siakam Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – NBA Playoffs Game 6, Thursday, May 2, 2024

    To beat his 3-point over/under, Pascal Siakam needs to make two from downtown on Thursday, when his Indiana Pacers play the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, tipping off at 6:30 PM ET.Pascal...

    Tyrese Haliburton Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – NBA Playoffs Game 6, Thursday, May 2, 2024

    To beat his 3-point prop, Tyrese Haliburton must make three from beyond the arc on Thursday, when his Indiana Pacers play the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, starting at 6:30 PM ET.Tyrese...

    Myles Turner Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – NBA Playoffs Game 6, Thursday, May 2, 2024

    Myles Turner must make three 3-pointers to beat his over/under when the Indiana Pacers meet the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday at 6:30 PM ET, in Game 6 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs.Myles Turner's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

    Bobby Portis Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pacers – NBA Playoffs Game 6, Thursday, May 2, 2024

    On Thursday at 6:30 PM ET, the Milwaukee Bucks play the Indiana Pacers in Game 6 of the opening round of the NBA playoffs, and Bobby Portis' 3-pointer prop for this matchup requires two trifectas.Bobby Portis' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs....

    WUT!? The Steelers Have Discussed Using Justin Fields as a Kick Returner

    Now that the NFL Draft is one week in our rearview mirror, we're hitting the part of the offseason where weird football stories pop up on our radar. And I'm not sure anything will be weirder than this clip from...

    Chicago Cubs Lineup: PCA Moves Up, Mervis and Swanson Sit

    CUBS LINEUP — The Cubs were able to eke out two improbable wins over the first three games of this series, which means they have a chance for the series win today. Ben Brown will be on the mound for...

    How to Watch 76ers vs. Knicks: Live Stream or on TV

    The Philadelphia 76ers will play the New York Knicks in a decisive Game 6 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.The 76ers will look for another victory over the Knicks following a 112-106 OT win in their matchup on...

    Astros vs. Guardians Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, May 2, 2024

    The Houston Astros (10-20) host the Cleveland Guardians (20-10) at 8:10 PM ET Thursday in a meeting between two of the league's best hitters. Jose Altuve is batting .341 this year (eighth in the league) for the favored Astros (-131),...

    Chicago Cubs Sign Righty Jake Wong

    The Chicago Cubs are seriously going off on the minor league pitching signings here after the start of the season. Sure, you sometimes see one, but this is entirely different (and I suspect it's because of the new stateside org...

    more bulls news