CHICAGO _ The United Center basketball court got a lot quieter Friday night.
It had nothing to do with the boisterous sellout crowd that sounded ready to burst at big moments after not witnessing playoff basketball last season.
It didn't even have as much to do with the Celtics finally arriving at the postseason party and scoring a 104-87 victory to pull within 2-1 in advance of Sunday's Game 4 in the same building.
The change mostly centered on Rajon Rondo shouting his near-constant instructions and encouragement from the bench rather than on the floor, where he greatly impacted the Bulls' first two victories in this first-round playoff series.
While Rondo wore a plum-colored, short-sleeved sport coat to leave exposed the cast protecting a wrist injury he's been playing through and a new fractured thumb, the Bulls' pace and play dropped.
They posted just one first-quarter assist and 14 for the game _ or the same amount Rondo posted when he tied the franchise playoff record in Game 2.
Jimmy Butler missed 11 of his first 12 shots and never traveled to the free-throw line after averaging 8.9 attempts per game during the regular season, shooting 7 for- 1 for 14 points. Rondo's replacements, Jerian Grant and Michael Carter-Williams, combined for three assists and seven turnovers.
Yeah, the Bulls missed Rondo, who is out indefinitely but almost certainly into the next round _ if they advance.
Celtics coach Brad Stevens again made adjustments. He started Gerald Green for Amir Johnson in a small lineup designed for more shooting. Given that the Celtics set an opponent franchise playoff record with 17 3-pointers, it worked.
Al Horford's 18 points led five players in double figures. Game 4 is Sunday.
Dwyane Wade led the Bulls with 18 points.
