Tonight, the Chicago Bulls will host the formidable  Boston Celtics  as the NBA resumes its final stretch of the regular season after the 2024 All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. In their previous encounter at the TD Garden, the Bulls faced a 124-97 blowout loss, but circumstances have changed since then. While the Celtics are positioned for a playoff run, the Bulls are striving to reach the .500 mark and make a case for the postseason.

Currently ninth in the East with a record of 26-29, they trail the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat by four wins. Their last game before the All-Star break resulted in a narrow 108-105 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Another positive for Boston While heading into the game is that all the key members in their roster are healthy. The only name on the injury report is guard Jaden Springer (ankle) who is listed as questionable. However, even Kristaps Porzingis will be playing restricted minutes.

The Boston Celtics enter the matchup on a six-game winning streak and hold a road record of 17-9. They have two games scheduled, starting with the Thursday night marquee matchup in Chicago, followed by a quick trip to face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

In terms of their head-to-head history, Boston leads Chicago 132-109 in 241 regular season games and holds a 3-2 record in the last five matchups between the two teams.

Bulls vs. Celtics: A Closer Look

The Bulls were anticipated to be active participants in trade deadline moves, but they opted to stay put following Zach LaVine’s season-ending foot surgery. Nonetheless, the trio of DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Coby White has ensured that the Bulls remain in the playoff race this season.

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Despite a lack of depth, the starting lineup has displayed impressive performances. However, questions linger regarding their defense and pace. Taking inspiration from the short-handed LA Lakers, who overwhelmed Boston earlier in the year with relentless play, the Bulls might benefit from not allowing players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis to dictate the tempo of the game.

Their upcoming opponents, the Boston Celtics, have excelled this season for various reasons. Apart from conceding the second-lowest field goal percentage, the Celtics are disciplined in avoiding fouls and maintain tight defensive play. On the offensive end, they boast significant firepower, with Tatum averaging 27.1 points per game, Brown contributing 22.0 points per game, and Porzingis adding 20.2 points per game.

Chicago’s unpredictability adds a layer of uncertainty. While they possess players capable of turning the game in their favor, it doesn’t occur frequently. The outcome heavily relies on DeRozan’s performance on Thursday, especially facing a robust and fully healthy Celtics team. The prediction is in favor of the Celtics making it 2-0 against the Bulls this season.