Morning Box Score: Bulls Easily Handle Celtics

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 8, 2011 2:30PM

Prior to last night's game between the Bulls and Celtics, Boston's Jermaine O'Neal said the game wasn't about trying to overtake the Bulls in the Eastern Conference standings as much as it was a statement for the playoffs. Instead, the Bulls wound up making the statement in a 97-81 win on a night when Scottie Pippen was honored at halftime with his own bronze statue.

Stop if we've said this before, but Derrick Rose was amazing last night with a game-high 30 points, 8 assists while thoroughly mopping the floor with his Celtics counterpart Rajon Rondo. Luol Deng played Robin to Rose's Batman once again with 23 points, Carlos Boozer added 14 points and 12 rebounds. The win evened the season series between the two teams at two games apiece. More important, the Bulls now hold tiebreakers against both the Celtics and Miami Heat. If the Bulls lose their final four games — unlikely — they'll still be the top seed in the Eastern Conference when the playoffs commence.