Watch as the Bulls take on the Boston Celtics tonight on CSN and streaming live on CSNChicago.com. Coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. with Bulls Pregame Live. And be sure to stick around after the final buzzer to watch Bulls Postgame Live for highlights and analysis.
Click here to watch the game or download the NBC Sports App, your home for live-streaming coverage of the Bulls.
Five Things to Watch:
1. Stay hot at home. Yes, the Bulls took care of business in Boston in ways they didn’t even think possible, according to Dwyane Wade. But they still need to grab one of these games at home. The good news is the Bulls had won six of seven to finish out the regular season. That means something, especially in a playoff game where they’re favored over the top-seeded Celtics.
2. Beware a team in desperation. The Bulls have outclassed the Celtics for the first two games of the series and they look like the far-and-away better team right now. But just as the Bulls would have come out with some fire if they were trailed 2-0, the Celtics will be ready. They know a 3-0 deficit would be a death sentence, and there’s too much talent here for them to go down quietly.
3. The Jimmy Butler Show. It’s going to be a thing to watch every game this series. It can’t be overstated how much Jimmy Butler has meant to this Bulls team. He’s the best player in this series and is the reason the Bulls have stolen the first two games of this series. There’s not a whole lot to analyze here: sit back, relax, and enjoy watching Butler dominate for 48 minutes.
4. Robin Lopez owning the paint. One could argue Robin Lopez has been the second best player for the Bulls, and with the Celtics perhaps going with a small-ball lineup in Game 3 to space the floor offensively, it could open up even more rebounding lanes for Lopez. As crazy as it sounds, Lopez could be the key to Game 3 so the Celtics can’t simply go small all night.
NBA
5. Rajon Rondo Revenge Tour. Don’t be surprised to see Rondo nab a triple-double tonight. Dude is all sorts of locked in and the Celtics have no real answer for him, unless they put Avery Bradley on him. In that case, Dwyane Wade would have freedom to go up against Isaiah Thomas. Instead, expect Rondo to keep getting in the paint at will and find open shooters and cutters. Brad Stevens’ adjustment to Rondo’s playmaking will dictate how the series goes.
- Enter to win tickets to Game 3 on Friday!
- Check out the latest stats and standings to make sure you're ready for action
- Channel Finder: Make sure you know where to watch
- NBC Sports App FAQ: All your questions answered
- Latest on the Bulls: All of the most recent news and notes