Sat, 12/12 Bulls vs Celtics

At least for the second straight night the Bulls showed flashes of a pulse. But the Celtics are chasing records, not respectability, and pulled away from the midpoint of the third quarter on for a dominant 106-80 victory.

That's 10 straight victories for the Celtics. That's 10 losses in 12 games for the Bulls. And the Lakers, where this slide all began Nov. 19, arrive Tuesday.

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By game's end, they managed just 19 in another brutal offensive performance that featured season-low 32.6 percent shooting. The Bulls, led by Derrick Rose's 19 points, also are now 0-5 in the second game of back-to-backs.

"Losing (Ben) Gordon hurts, probably more for the last four minutes than the first 44," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said before the game. "Their biggest thing is injuries. When you start the season with the injuries they have had, plus having a guy who didn't play last year in (Luol) Deng come back, you're going to start out slow. It's almost expected.

"Your point guard (Derrick Rose) has been injured. (Kirk) Hinrich has been injured. You're going to struggle. I wouldn't panic about it."

Try telling Bulls fans that.

The game turned early in the third quarter. Trailing 58-52, Deng barreled downcourt on a fast break with an advantage -- but dribbled the ball off his leg and out of bounds.

Ray Allen then buried a 3-pointer at the other end, John Salmons missed a foul-line jumper and Paul Pierce buried Rose with a pick to spring Rondo free. Worse, Deng, Miller and Joakim Noah watched Rondo waltz to the basket for a finger roll to make it 63-52.

The Celtics then closed the fourth quarter with a 16-4 run capped by Rondo barely beating the quarter buzzer with a 20-foot jumper. He had six in the spurt.

About the only thing worth watching in the fourth quarter was Benny the Bull.

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Miller's night came near full-circle with 5:11 left when he received a technical foul for jawing with House.

Flagrant fouls, technical fouls -- they all speak to frustration. In that, the Bulls are one of the best teams.

Boston scored 10 straight late in the third quarter, making it a 20-point game and sending the Bulls to their 10th loss in 12 games.

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Chicago went the final 6:18 of the third quarter without a field goal and shot 32.6 percent overall. With a 71-61 lead, Pierce hit two free throws to start a 10-0 run that Garnett capped with an alley-oop layup from Rondo with 1:26 left in the quarter.

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Things got testy about 3½ minutes into the game when Miller basically clotheslined a driving Rondo, who gave him a bloody mouth in the playoffs. That delighted the crowd, even if it resulted in a flagrant foul.