Duel of cadors this night in the Eastern Conference with Chicago which received Boston at the United Center. Some wanted to secure second place, others hoped to reassure themselves a little before the start of the Playoffs. Who insured? The answer just below.
For the boxscore of this match, please follow the magic link.
It may have lost one of its pillars with Robert Williams, the Celtics house still seems as solid and resistant. The trip to Chicago could be quite a trap for Ime Udoka and his family, but the leprechauns have released a new masterclass to send the bulls back to the pen. Carried by an iron defense and an applied collective, Boston did not leave the slightest hope to its evening opponent. On fire for two months, Jayson Tatum was even able to afford an evening without shooting, leaving the duo Jaylen Brown – Al Horford take the lead offensively in a victory that will have been validated in… three quarters. Perfect to save some legs before an apocalyptic duel tomorrow against Milwaukee. A crucial meeting to get second place and validate the advantage of the field until the second round, where the two teams could meet again in a few weeks.
On the Chicago side, we are not reassured at all with this new setback. Another cador who pulls out his muscles against the Bulls (the record against the Top 3 teams does not improve), another very salty defeat in the gums. In 24 hours, Windy City has just taken, at home let us remember, a cumulative gap of 47 points against two teams that it could find in the postseason in a week! On track to finish in sixth place, Chicago would therefore face the third in its Conference, which is currently Milwaukee. A Bucks victory tomorrow could, depending on the result in Philly, put Boston back on the third step. Either way, it looks like bad news for Billy Donovan’s players. Yes, Alex Caruso was not there tonight. Yes, Lonzo Ball will probably miss the end of the season. But more than the injuries, this team seems above all broken in the head and it only has two games left to recover some certainties, or even a little hope, before attacking the big duels in the Playoffs .
The Celtics successfully passed the Bulls test tonight. Victory with authority in Illinois, bodes well before a clash at the top against Giannis Antetokounmpo and his gang. A meeting worthy of an Eastern Conference final.