Jaylen Brown

Chicago Bulls (24-30, 11th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (34-19, third in the Eastern Conference)Boston; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Chicago aims to end its five-game skid with a win over Boston.The Celtics are 23-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Boston ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference with 32.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Nikola Vucevic averaging 6.8.The Bulls are 16-21 against Eastern Conference opponents. Chicago ranks second in the Eastern Conference with 34.6 defensive rebounds per game led by Josh Giddey averaging 7.4.The Celtics score 115.1 points per game, 5.5 fewer points than the 120.6 the Bulls allow. The Bulls score 8.6 more points per game (117.0) than the Celtics allow their opponents to score (108.4).The teams meet for the third time this season. The Bulls won 114-111 in the last matchup on Jan. 25.TOP PERFORMERS: Derrick White is averaging 17.4 points and 5.5 assists for the Celtics. Jaylen Brown is averaging 21.9 points over the last 10 games.Giddey is averaging 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists for the Bulls. Matas Buzelis is averaging 16.3 points over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 7-3, averaging 107.9 points, 46.5 rebounds, 24.9 assists, 6.7 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 102.3 points per game.Bulls: 2-8, averaging 112.8 points, 43.0 rebounds, 26.6 assists, 6.8 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 123.4 points.INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles), Sam Hauser: day to day (back).Bulls: Jalen Smith: day to day (calf), Noa Essengue: out for season (shoulder), Tre Jones: day to day (hamstring), Zach Collins: out (toe), Josh Giddey: day to day (hamstring).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

He picked up the slack for an absent OG Anunoby.

For the Beantowners, it s a pre-Super Bowl showdown against the Knicks, who eliminated the Celtics from the playoffs last year

New York Knicks (33-19, third in the Eastern Conference) vs. Boston Celtics (34-18, second in the Eastern Conference)Boston; Sunday, 12:30 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Boston seeks to keep its five-game win streak alive when the Celtics take on New York.The Celtics are 23-12 against conference opponents. Boston has a 5-6 record in games decided by 3 points or fewer.The Knicks are 22-12 in Eastern Conference play. New York averages 117.5 points while outscoring opponents by 5.2 points per game.The Celtics score 115.6 points per game, 3.3 more points than the 112.3 the Knicks allow. The Knicks average 15.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.0 more made shot on average than the 14.0 per game the Celtics give up.The teams square off for the third time this season. The Celtics won 123-117 in the last matchup on Dec. 3. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 42 points, and Mikal Bridges led the Knicks with 35 points.TOP PERFORMERS: Brown is averaging 29.5 points, seven rebounds and 4.7 assists for the Celtics. Payton Pritchard is averaging 20 points and five assists over the last 10 games.Jalen Brunson is scoring 27.1 points per game and averaging 3.3 rebounds for the Knicks. Landry Shamet is averaging 2.9 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Celtics: 8-2, averaging 110.9 points, 47.5 rebounds, 25.1 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.6 points per game.Knicks: 8-2, averaging 113.6 points, 48.2 rebounds, 27.6 assists, 8.1 steals and 3.5 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 101.1 points.INJURIES: Celtics: Jayson Tatum: out (achilles).Knicks: OG Anunoby: day to day (toe), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (eye), Josh Hart: day to day (ankle), Jose Alvarado: day to day (not injury related), Miles McBride: out (ankle).___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Jaylen Brown had 29 points while Payton Pritchard scored 24 points to help the Boston Celtics make their biggest comeback of the season, rallying from a 22-point deficit to defeat the Miami Heat 98-96 on Friday night. Derrick White hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 1:31 remaining that provided the Celtics winners of five straight the final margin. Nikola Vucevic had a double-double in his first game with the Celtics, finishing with 11 points and 12 rebounds.