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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Michael Mulford

Celtic fall to the Bulls despite Tatum’s first career triple-double

It was meant to end at some point, right?

The Boston Celtics’ six-game winning streak finally came to an end tonight as they fell short to the Chicago Bulls, 102-96. Boston was without guards Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart tonight, which was surely evident down the stretch in the fourth.

In the first half, the Celtics had control, holding a 48-42 lead at halftime but Nikola Vucevic and the Bulls came out firing in the third quarter, outscoring Boston 32-18 to take an 8-point lead into the fourth.

In the fourth quarter, the Celtics tied the game up at 90 on a Jaylen Brown 3-pointer with just over 3:00 minutes left yet clutch free throws down the stretch from Coby White clinched the game for the Bulls.

In his return to the lineup, Jaylen Brown led the way for Boston with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Despite notching his first career triple-double, Jayson Tatum struggled mightily from the field, scoring 14 points on just 3-of-17 shooting, along with 13 rebounds and 10 assists.

The Bulls did a great job at blitzing and throwing a second defender at Brown and especially Tatum with such a depleted roster around them.

Robert Williams and Evan Fournier were out once again tonight on top of the Celtics missing Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart, who were both out due to non-COVID illnesses.

The Celtics have two days off before they look to bounce back against the Phoenix Suns, winners of 12 of their last 14 games.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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