Bulls rally at Boston, but suffer first loss
Everyone knew it was going to happen someday. The Bulls weren't going undefeated this season, after all.
The breakthrough came Wednesday when a late rally fell short and the Bulls lost to the Boston Celtics 107-100 at the TD Garden. The Bulls fell to 3-1 on the season and will return home to face the New York Knicks, along with some old friends, on Friday at the United Center.
Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with 23 points, while Nikola Mirotic added 17 and Dwyane Wade scored 15. Isaiah Thomas and Amir Johnson scored 23 each to lead Boston (3-1).
The Bulls were looking up all night thank to some hot shooting by the Celtics. The home team hit 6 of 9 shots from long range in the opening quarter, then low-scoring power forward Amir Johnson drained 4 straight 3-pointers in the third quarter. Johnson made just 10 3-pointers all of last season.
Trailing 86-70 early in the fourth quarter, the Bulls pulled together a nice rally. Butler scored 9 straight Bulls points to close the gap to 94-91. Then a pair of Mirotic free throws tied the score at 100-100 with 1:57 remaining.
After Boston went ahead with a free throws, Mirotic missed a chance to put the Bulls ahead by missing a pair at the foul line. On the other end, Thomas hit a nice running bank shot to give the Celtics a 3-point lead with 1:23 remaining.
Longtime Celtics guard Rajon Rondo missed a jumper and with the Bulls badly in need of a defensive stop, the Celtics grabbed an offensive rebound, leading to a Marcus Smart running bank to make it 105-100 with 25.2 seconds remaining.
Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg stuck with a hot lineup down the stretch, using Mirotic and Bobby Portis on the inside with Butler, Wade and Rondo.
The Bulls were missing two regulars. Doug McDermott is still in concussion protocol and did not play, although Hoiberg said before the game McDermott feels fine. Guard Michael Carter-Williams is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a bone bruise in his left knee after falling hard in Monday's win at Brooklyn.
For Boston, new addition Al Horford did not play because of a concussion suffered this week in practice. Forward Jae Crowder left in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.
With two rotation players missing, Hoiberg used rookie Denzel Valentine and guard Jerian Grant in the first half. Grant made his official Bulls debut after being inactive for the first three games. Grant scored 6 points in 13 minutes, while Valentine knocked down a 3-pointer.
Friday's game at the United Center will mark the return of two longtime Bulls, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, now with the Knicks.
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