Keys to Chicago Bulls’ road game vs. Boston Celtics

Coming off a 106-88 home win against the Hornets, the Chicago Bulls (5-4) visit the Boston Celtics (4-3) at 7:30 PM ET. The Bulls will be without Andre Drummond (left shoulder sprain) as they look to win their third straight contest.

Contain Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown

The Celtics are coming off a tough 114-113 road loss against the Cavaliers. This loss came just five days after the Cavaliers beat them 132-123 in Boston, also in overtime.

Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 30 points on Tuesday, while Jayson Tatum added 26 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks. It was an off game for Tatum; he found a way to contribute, but the Cavaliers limited him to 8-of-21 from the field and 2-of-9 from 3-point range. He also turned the ball over six times.

Teams have a hard time beating the Celtics if Tatum and Brown both go off simultaneously. The Cavaliers held Tatum and Brown to a combined 5-of-19 (26.3 percent) from beyond the arc and they had nine of the Celtics’ 14 turnovers in the game.

Bulls’ starters and reserves have to show up

The Bulls beat the Celtics 120-102 at home in the first meeting on October 24. DeMar DeRozan led the way with 25 points, five rebounds, and five assists, Nikola Vucevic had a monster game with 18 points, 23 rebounds, and five assists, Ayo Dosunmu finished with 22 points and six rebounds and Zach LaVine added 19 points.

The Celtics led by double digits in the first quarter, but Vucevic willed the Bulls back and 20-point efforts from Tatum and Brown were not enough for the Celtics, as their second unit didn’t produce, besides Malcolm Brogdon’s 12 points.

The Bulls’ second unit has been terrific in the last two games, and how much they produce on Friday is one of the keys to this game. The Bulls also need Patrick Williams to keep being aggressive.

Williams had just four points and three rebounds on 2-of-7 shooting in the previous meeting against the Celtics, but he’s averaging 12.3 points and 5 rebounds in 31.7 minutes over his last three games.

Noteworthy

Chicago beat Boston four of the last seven times.

They are 5-5 in the last 10 matchups.

Bulls’ projected lineup: Dosunmu, LaVine, DeRozan, Williams, Vucevic

Celtics’ projected lineup: Smart, White, Tatum, Brown, Horford

Injury Report: Lonzo Ball is out for the Bulls with a knee injury; Andre Drummond (left shoulder sprain) will miss this game and Coby White is listed as questionable (left quadriceps contusion)

Center Robert Williams III (left knee) and forward Danilo Gallinari (torn ACL in left knee) are out for the Celtics