What we learned from the Chicago Bulls' embarrassing loss to the Boston Celtics

The Chicago Bulls had another forgettable night as they got dusted off by the Boston Celtics, 124-97, for their fifth loss in a row. Here are two takeaways from the lopsided setback:

Bulls wingmen suffer injuries

Zach LaVine had a rough outing against the Celtics. He flubbed his first six attempts and did not register his first point until there were only 17 seconds left in the first half. He finished the game with just two points on 1-of-9 shooting. He exited the game with five minutes left in the third quarter because of soreness in his right foot, the same injury that kept him from playing against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“It's sore,” LaVine said.

“I felt it a little bit, and it progressively got worse. So it didn't make sense to continue to risk it.”

DeMar DeRozan’s night also ended prematurely after a hard fall. After playing through several possessions, he exited in the third and did not return because of a sore left ankle.

Deebo Time 😮‍💨@DeMar_DeRozan | @NBCSChicago pic.twitter.com/MwJBSoSeQ6
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 29, 2023

The fuss over point differential

Boston needed to defeat Chicago by at least 23 points to emerge as the Group C winner. The Celtics took this task very seriously, even activating Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, both of whom were initially listed as questionable.

With the game well in hand and the Celtics up by 29, 108-79, Boston began intentionally fouling Bulls big man Andre Drummond, who, for his career, shoots 47 percent from the charity stripe. The move paid off as Drummond missed five of his six free throws in the fourth.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, though, was classy enough to explain what he was trying to do to Bulls coach Billy Donovan. He also apologized to Drummond.

“They're trying to get to Vegas. It's just a tough situation. He has to coach his team and do what he feels is right,” Donovan said.

“Play (the starters) all the way to the end. I got no problem with that. But I just thought it was putting Andre in a tough spot in a 30-point game. I didn't like that.”

heres the moment Billy Donovan approached Joe Mazzulla because Joe was intentionally fouling Andre Drummond during a blowout. pretty clear Billy is aware of the IST point differential reasoning, but there’s debate what # Boston needed to get to. Drummond of course misses both FTs pic.twitter.com/2U7q5Ertqm
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 29, 2023

Bulls wingmen suffer injuries

The fuss over point differential

Chicago Bulls go winless in the NBA's In-Season Tournament after getting walloped by the Boston Celtics 124-97