Vucevic drops 27 points but Robert Williams free throws lift Celtics over Bulls / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP-Scanpix Credit AP-Scanpix

Robert Williams III scored six of his team's final 10 points, including the game-winning free throws with 9.7 seconds remaining as the host Boston Celtics (22-22) rallied past the shorthanded Chicago Bulls (27-14) for a 114-112 (32-22, 22-27, 30-34, 30-29) win on Saturday night.

Player of the Game EFF 27 Robert Williams Points 14 Accuracy 5-8 Rebounds 13 Assists 6

Chicago went up 108-101 with just over four minutes to play before Boston used an 11-4 run to tie it at 112 after a pair of Williams free throws with 31 seconds to play.

DeMar DeRozan missed a stepback jumper with 9.7 seconds left and Nikola Vucevic committed a loose ball foul on the rebound. Williams made two more free throws to make it 114-112 and Vucevic missed a 3-pointer and DeRozan misfired on an 11-footer to end the game.

Jayson Tatum had a team-high 23 points and 12 rebounds and Jaylen Brown added 19 points to lead the Celtics. Dennis Schroder added 16 points with eight assists, Al Horford had 15 with eight rebounds and Williams totaled 14 points, 13 boards, and six assists.

Boston bounced back from a 111-99 loss at Philadelphia on Friday with its sixth win in nine games.

Vucevic had a game-high 27 points, DeRozan had 23 with eight rebounds and seven assists as Ayo Dosunmu added career-highs of 21 points and 10 assists for the Bulls.

Coby White added 19 points for Chicago, which suffered its third straight defeat and fourth in its last five games.

Bulls All-Star guard Zach LaVine missed the game after suffering a left knee injury in Friday's loss to the Golden State Warriors. An MRI exam on Saturday reportedly revealed no structural damage to LaVine's knee.

Chicago guard Lonzo Ball was a game-time scratch with left knee soreness. The Bulls were also without Alex Caruso (foot), Derrick Jones (bone bruise in right knee), Javonte Green (right adductor strain), Tyler Cook (ankle), and Patrick Williams (wrist).

Celtics guard Marcus Smart missed his third straight game after entering the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocol prior to Friday's loss at Philadelphia.

Boston led 54-49 at halftime after being up as many as 12 points early in the second quarter.

Celtics: Jason Tatum 23 (13 REB), Jaylen Brown 17 (7 REB), Dennis Schroder 16 (6 REB, 7 AST), Al Horford 15 (8 REB), Robert Williams 14 (12 REB, 6 AST), Josh Richardson 13.

Bulls: Nikola Vucevic 27 (6 REB, 6 AST), Demar DeRozan 23 (8 REB, 7 AST), Ayo Dosunmu 21 (10 AST), Coby White 19 (5 AST).

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