Each time the Celtics would gain momentum with a mini-run, they would lose it with a turnover, missed free throw, or missed 3-pointer. And there was no go-to guy in the critical moments. Paul Pierce (6 for 18, 20 points) was uncharacteristically off, while Ray Allen (4 for 10, 8 points) was not his usual aggressive self offensively.
There was a point in the fourth quarter when fans were depending on Brian Scalabrine to drain a big 3-pointer with the Bulls leading, 85-77. That missed, too.
Luol Deng was stellar with 25 points, and Derrick Rose added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls (17-20).
Chicago attacked Boston from the opening tip and the Celtics couldn’t sustain momentum past a few possessions. With Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett out, and in the sixth game in nine nights, the Celtics showed their mortality against a team they had beaten soundly in two previous meetings.
“We don’t make excuses,’’ Pierce said. “We feel like [when] we’re at home we should be a better team than what we have been playing of late, and we should win these type of games regardless of how many games [we play].
“We need to make this building a place where teams feel like they can’t win and we haven’t been doing that of late.’’
The Celtics’ six home losses equal the number they amassed each of the past two seasons. Boston has dropped home games to Chicago, Philadelphia, Orlando, Phoenix, and Atlanta (twice). While four are excusable, opponents don’t fear the Celtics in TD Garden as they did in the past - especially when the Celtics are shorthanded.
The Bulls pressured the Boston guards and forced perimeter shots. And Chicago features so many athletic forwards - Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, and Taj Gibson - that any rebound was going to be contested.
At this point, the Celtics lack the muscle to compete in the paint with the Bulls. Kendrick Perkins battled as much as he could, but he and Glen Davis constitute the Celtics’ big men.
“They came out and jumped us from the start,’’ Perkins said. “They were hitting us first, instigating. We were retaliators. They just came out with it on their mind tonight that they were going to beat us and they did.’’
