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Keys to the Game: Celtics 104, Bulls 87

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Key Moment

The Chicago Bulls came oh-so-close to erasing a 20-point first-half deficit during Friday night’s Game 3 matchup against the Boston Celtics.

The C’s, down 2-0 in the series, were playing with a sense of desperation, however, so they weren’t about to let that happen.

Boston flew out of the gate at United Center and had a 35-15 lead by the first possession of the second quarter. But the Bulls battled back throughout the second frame and pulled within one point of the Celtics during the opening minute of the third quarter.

The C’s were barely clinging on with a 44-43 advantage after scoring just 11 points during the entire second period, but they suddenly rediscovered their offense.

Boston scored the game’s next eight points over a 56-second span, thanks to an Isaiah Thomas-to-Al Horford alley-oop, followed by consecutive 3-pointers from IT.

That short sequence of plays was enough to pull Boston out of its offensive lull, and it would not allow the Bulls to pull within eight points from there on out.

After their 11-point second-quarter effort, the C’s went on to score 32 points during the third quarter and 28 more during the fourth, en route to a convincing, 104-87 victory.

Key Player

Al Horford must have been tired of hearing about Boston’s lack of aggression during Games 1 and 2, because he was a force to be reckoned with Friday night on both ends of the court against the Bulls.

Boston’s big man led the team in points (18), rebounds (eight) and steals (four). He also dished out six assists and logged one of Boston’s two blocked shots on the night.

After a quiet Game 2, during which he logged just seven points, Horford needed a night like this. And his aggression on both ends of the court was a necessity for Boston, as it cut its series deficit to 2-1.

Box Score Nuggets

  • The Celtics had 34 assists on 41 field goal makes.
  • Chicago logged just 14 assists on 33 field goal makes.
  • Each team had six players score in double-figures, but no one reached 20 points.
  • Al Horford and Dwyane Wade led the scoring for their respective teams with 18 points apiece.
  • Horford also led the Celtics in rebounds (eight), steals (four) and tied for the team high with one block.
  • Cristiano Felicio (11 boards) was the only player to log double-figures in the rebounding department.
  • Boston made 17 3-pointers – the second-most in a playoff game in team history (19 on 5/3/02 vs. Philadelphia).
  • Four Celtics dished out at least five assists, led by Isaiah Thomas' nine dimes.
  • No Bulls player logged more than three assists.
  • Jae Crowder had a game-best plus/minus rating of plus-23.
  • Terry Rozier scored 11 points and canned three 3-pointers off the bench for Boston.

Quote of the Night

Avery Bradley on the advice Kevin Garnett gave the Celtics before Game 3.