If the Chicago Bulls are to overcome the host Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, they’ll have to do it without their leading scorer, Zach LaVine.
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LaVine and his wife, Hunter, recently announced they are expecting their third child. Consequently, LaVine will not accompany the team on its three-game road trip, according to Chicago coach Billy Donovan. The Bulls will also play at Toronto on Friday and at Detroit on Sunday.
LaVine, who has been mentioned in trade rumors this season, is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field. He scored a team-high 21 points when the Bulls snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the Denver Nuggets 129-121 on Monday. Chicago’s bench contributed 41 points in that game.
The Bulls made 24 of 53 3-point attempts and entered the contest with seven losses in their last eight games.
The Celtics, second in the Eastern Conference, have had an inconsistent month, going 6-6 in their last 12 games. Monday’s 114-112 loss to Houston was Boston’s third defeat in its last five home games, dropping the team’s home record to 15-9. The Celtics were 37-4 at home last season.
Boston played without Derrick White (shin), Sam Hauser (hip), and Al Horford (toe). White is expected to play Wednesday, while Hauser, Horford, and Jayson Tatum (knee) are questionable.
The Celtics lost despite leading by 12 early in the fourth quarter. It was the ninth time they’ve lost a game this season when they had the lead in the fourth, and their seventh loss when they held at least a 10-point lead at some point in a game.
One of Boston’s home losses this season came against Chicago, which earned a 117-108 victory in Boston on December 19. LaVine scored 36 points that night.
Boston won the two other matchups between the teams this season, both of which were played in Chicago. The Celtics prevailed 138-129 on November 29 and 123-98 on December 21.
Chicago’s Coby White (ankle) is questionable.