Boston Celtics vs Chicago Bulls Picks and Predictions January 29th 2025

Bulls Face Celtics Again Without Zach LaVine

The Chicago Bulls are gearing up for a tough matchup against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night, but they’ll be without their leading scorer, Zach LaVine. His absence will force Chicago to rely on its depth and team-oriented play to pull off another victory against the Eastern Conference contenders.

LaVine’s Absence and Its Impact

Zach LaVine, who is averaging 24.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game this season, will miss the Bulls’ three-game road trip as he and his wife, Hunter, are expecting their third child. His scoring ability and leadership will be missed as the Bulls aim to continue their recent momentum after a strong performance against the Denver Nuggets.

Looking for Free NBA Picks? Check out our free NBA basketball picks for today’s games.

In that game, Chicago ended a two-game skid with a 129-121 win, fueled by 41 points from its bench. LaVine himself contributed 21 points and emphasized the importance of team play:

“This is the way we’re supposed to be playing. First unit, second unit—we played with energy, we played through runs. When they [bench players] give us a boost like that, it’s great.”

The Bulls were efficient from beyond the arc, making 24 of 53 three-point attempts, a crucial factor in their victory. Head coach Billy Donovan stressed the need for consistent ball movement and transition play to keep the team competitive.

“The last five, 10 games, the things that have gone down have been, one, our 3-point volume. Two, our transition volume, and the third part is the potential assists and ball movement. If we don’t do those three things really well, it’s hard for us. We have to be a team with five to seven guys in double figures. We have to move it. We have to generate easy baskets.”

Celtics Looking for Consistency

The Celtics, currently second in the Eastern Conference, have struggled with consistency in recent weeks. Their 114-112 loss to the Houston Rockets on Monday marked their third defeat in five home games. The team’s home record now stands at 15-9, a stark contrast to last season’s dominant 37-4 mark at TD Garden.

Boston’s Jaylen Brown led the way against Houston with 28 points but acknowledged the team’s shortcomings.

“I thought we competed. Give credit to Houston. The people we wanted to make beat us, beat us. We wanted to get Jalen [Green], Fred [VanVleet], and [Alperen] Sengun—we wanted to take them away, and we kinda accomplished that. But Dillon Brooks [season-high 36 points] and Amen Thompson [career-best 33] made us pay.”

Injuries have also played a role in Boston’s recent struggles. Derrick White (shin), Sam Hauser (hip), and Al Horford (toe) all missed the Houston game. White is expected to return against Chicago, but Hauser, Horford, and Jayson Tatum (knee) remain questionable.

The loss to the Rockets was particularly frustrating for Boston, as they led by 12 points early in the fourth quarter. It marked the ninth time this season they lost a game after leading in the final period and the seventh time they squandered a double-digit lead.

Brown acknowledged the need for improvement in closing out games.

Wondering Where The Winning Picks Are?

Access Expert NBA Predictions Today!

Join Us Now!

“We have to be better down the stretch and execute. [Monday night] wasn’t the best example of that, so it’s something we have to look at, for sure.”

Previous Matchups Between Bulls and Celtics

Chicago has already proven it can win in Boston, having secured a 117-108 victory at TD Garden on December 19, when LaVine exploded for 36 points. However, the Celtics won the two previous meetings in Chicago, taking a high-scoring 138-129 battle on November 29 and dominating 123-98 on December 21.

With LaVine sidelined, the Bulls will need strong contributions from DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vučević, and their bench unit. Additionally, Coby White’s status (ankle) remains uncertain, adding another layer of intrigue to Chicago’s game plan.

Boston, meanwhile, will aim to reassert its dominance at home while fixing its late-game execution issues. Whether the Bulls can replicate their December road success or if the Celtics will respond with a statement win remains to be seen.