Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls, 101-95.

The Boston Celtics held a sizable lead for the majority of the game against the Chicago Bulls. Their lead consistently hovered around 10 points, until the Bulls finally put together a run late in the game.

Around the middle of the 4th quarter, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng’s immense effort finally paid off. They combined to go on a run that cut down the Celtics’ lead to between two and four points.  

Boston was forced to regroup at that stage and ran two set plays to get Jason Terry open looks from mid-range. The veteran shooting guard stuck both of them, which aided in repelling the Bulls’ charge.

Overall there were a few main reasons for the Celtics victory tonight. 

First, the biggest story of the night was Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo. Playing with no Derrick Rose or Kirk Hinrich, the Bulls could do little to stop him. Nate Robinson was feasted on defensively, as Rondo posted 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting. He also added 10 assists, nine rebounds and five steals. 

He tallied three assists in the closing minutes that led to three dunks by Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass. Those plays severely helped the Celtics across the finish-line. 

The cause of the Bulls loss late in the game was a familiar foe, and one that isn't going away anytime soon.

The Bulls were impressive in their ability to claw back into this game, but a glaring issue caused their demise. 

Chicago still has a lot to prove in terms of closing out opportunities at wins without Derrick Rose. There were several late possessions where there just were not enough offensive weapons for them to utilize. This leads to turnovers and bad shot selection.

Finally, while Deng led all scorer with 26 points on 11-of-20 shooting, it was the all-around effort from Boston that took the game.

The Celtics had five players in double-figures, and their bench outscored the Bulls’ 27-18. 

This was the first quality win of the Celtics schedule and they showed a lot of their strengths in finishing off the Bulls.  

The game told us a little bit about each team, but neither is where they need to be in order to contend later in 2012-13.

The Celtics improve to 4-3, while the Bulls fall to 4-3 on the season. The Celtics return to action Wednesday night at home against the Utah Jazz. The Bulls head to Phoenix for a game Wednesday night against the Suns.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls, 101-95.

Chicago Bulls boxscore, courtesy of NBA.com.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls, 101-95.

Boston Celtics box score:

Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls, 101-95.

The Celtics and Bulls final +/- stats look like this:

Boston

Rajon Rondo: +15
Paul Pierce: +13
Kevin Garnett: +10
Brandon Bass: +18
Jason Terry: +19
Jeff Green: -7
Leandro Barbosa: -7
Jared Sullinger: -10
Courtney Lee: -17
Chris Wilcox: -4

Chicago

Nate Robinson: -15
Luol Deng: +2
Joakim Noah: -9
Carlos Boozer: -17
Richard Hamilton: -8
Marco Belinelli: +4
Taj Gibson: +11
Marquis Teague: +9
Nazr Mohammed: +3
Jimmy Butler: -10

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls, 101-95.

Postgame analysis and scores to come shortly. Keep it tuned right here to Bleacher Report.

Celtics 101, Bulls 95 - :03 remaining in the 4th quarter.

Jason Terry receives the inbounds pass and an immediate trip to the line.

Unlike Taj Gibson, Terry sank the clutch free-throws, icing the game for the Celtics

Celtics 99, Bulls 95 - :17 remaining in the 4th quarter.

Taj Gibson is unable to connect on a pair of free throws on the offensive end and the Bulls allow another Rajon Rondo pass for a dunk. This time is was Brandon Bass on the receiving game.

The assist was Rondo's 10th on the night, extending his streak to 31-straight games with double-digit dimes. He snuck it in under the wire tonight, but got there nonetheless. His final three assists could not have come at a more clutch time either. 

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Celtics 97, Bulls 93 - :41 remaining in the 4th quarter.

Another Rajon Rondo-to-Kevin Garnett alley-oop boosts the Celtics lead back to four.

Joakim Noah makes a crucial error coming out on Rondo yet again, especially after seeing that same play mere minutes ago.

Celtics 95, Bulls 93 - :49 remaining in the 4th quarter.

The Celtics allowed an offensive rebound off a missed free throw, a cardinal sin in basketball. Luol Deng followed it up with a layup and now we've got a two-point game with under a minute to go.

Boston still has the ball and a lead, though.

Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Celtics 95, Bulls 91 - 1:28 remaining in the 4th quarter.

Rajon Rondo is coming on strong after a quiet stretch. He drew three defenders to the left before lofting an alley-oop to Kevin Garnett, his eight assist of the game.

Rondo is now in danger of snapping his double-digit assist streak, but I think he'll take a win over that either way.

Celtics 93, Bulls 88 - 2:48 remaining in the 4th quarter.

Same story, later time. 

Luol Deng and Joakim Noah continue the energy play and cut the Celtics' lead to just three, but once again Jason Terry stuck a jumper to push it back out.

Deng and Noah are playing on pure adrenaline right now, which is the only way they can win this game. Their intensity level has single-handidly kept the Bulls in the game and brought them within a small margin of a lead.

It still appears that the Celtics will have too many scoring options, with Terry coming up big late, for the Bulls to score enough to win.

Celtics 91, Bulls 86 - 3:50 remaining in the 4th quarter.

This is going to be a spot where the Bulls miss Derrick Rose most of all. They have fought like crazy to work their way back into this game, but are now for the most part spent.

More than that, they still lack a go-to scorer here. Marco Belinelli just threw a floater off the back of the backboard, because no one know how to score in these crunch-time situations.

Celtics 89, Bulls 84 - 4:52 remaining in the 4th quarter.

The Celtics are on a 3-for-13 run right now. A complete shift from the way they started this game shooting the basketball. 

The Bulls defense has kicked it up a notch, as expected. Joakim Noah registered a big block on a Paul Pierce floater. 

Jason Terry puts a stop to the bleeding with a Ray Allen-like jumper, but the Celtics are fading rapidly.

Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

Celtics 87, Bulls 84 - 7:03 remaining in the 4th quarter.

Joakim Noah has definitely cranked it up to another level in this 4th quarter. He now has 15 points and eight rebounds, including seven points in the final frame.

Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

Celtics 87, Bulls 82 - 8:47 remaining in the 4th quarter.

No sooner do I post that last update, the Bulls go on a mini-run to cut the Celtics' lead to just five.

A Luol Deng three-point play followed up five straight points from Joakim Noah to get the Bulls back into this.

The Celtics need to get their starters back on the floor soon.

Celtics 87, Bulls 79 - 8:50 remaining in the 4th quarter.

The Bulls were able to the deficit to single-digits prior to the buzzer, but a Jared Sullinger three, put the Celtics up 12 at the quarter change.

There has just been nothing the Bulls can do defensively to slow Boston down. They are still shooting well over 55 percent from the field and it is coming from everywhere.

All playing Celtics have scored at least one basket, and now four of the players are in double-figures.

Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

At the end of the 3rd quarter, the Boston Celtics lead the Chicago Bulls, 82-70.

After three quarters, the Celtics and Bulls +/- stats look like this:

Boston

Rajon Rondo: +13
Paul Pierce: +10
Kevin Garnett: +12
Brandon Bass: +15
Jason Terry: +16
Jeff Green: +2
Leandro Barbosa: +3
Jared Sullinger: -3
Courtney Lee: -8
Chris Wilcox: 0

Chicago

Nate Robinson: -15
Luol Deng: -6
Joakim Noah: -15
Carlos Boozer: -17
Richard Hamilton: -8
Marco Belinelli: -1
Taj Gibson: +5
Marquis Teague: +3
Nazr Mohammed: +3
Jimmy Butler: -9

Celtics 76, Bulls 62 - 2:51 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

As Rajon Rondo passes 20 points, here is a brief sampling of how good he has been tonight, Courtesy of NBA.com.

Also good news on the Celtics front, Jeff Green has entered the game for the first time since rolling his ankle on Kevin Garnett's shoe.

Celtics 70, Bulls 59 - 5:53 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

Rajon Rondo has taken over the game on the Celtics' end. He now has 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.

Nate Robinson has been powerless to stop him on the defensive end. Luckily for Chicago, Robinson has provided some offense of his own, with seven points and six assists.

Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer are helping the Bulls hang around, but they aren't picking up the necessary ground to make this a game in the final frame.

Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

Celtics 64, Bulls 54 - 8:00 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

More of the same at the outset of the 3rd quarters. Rajon Rondo picks up a few quick buckets, racing around Nate Robinson. 

He now has 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting, to go along with five assists and five rebounds. We may soon get the triple-double watch up and running.

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Celtics 58, Bulls 46 - Halftime

Trailing by 12 points at the half, this game is far from over.

At some point the Chicago Bulls defense will pick back up, and the Celtics will not shoot 60 percent from the field all night. 

For the Bulls to get back in it, they will have to get stops early and often. 

At this stage, the game can go one of two ways. The Celtics can pull away and make it a blowout, or the Bulls can chip away and get the deficit to a more manageable five or six points. At that point they can make a run in the fourth quarter.

Celtics 58, Bulls 46 - Halftime

The Celtics have been playing very aggressive tonight. Just like Kevin Garnett previously ordered from his team, and Jeff Green in particular.

Green and Courtney Lee have recently struggled to assert themselves in games, but today are a combined 4-of-6 for eight points. They are part of a bench unit that has played with a confidence we haven't seen from them this season.

Mark L. Baer-US PRESSWIRE

Celtics 58, Bulls 46 - Halftime

The Celtics shot 59.5 percent from the field en route to 58 1st quarter points. Their bench is outscoring that of the Bulls 16-11. Everything is working on that end for the Celtics. 

For Chicago, Carlos Boozer leads all scorers with 12 points and Luol Deng has 11. However, defensively they haven't been able to stop the Celtics inside.

Rajon Rondo has 10 points and five assists and has largely had his way with Nate Robinson and Marquis Teague. 

At the end of the second quarter, the Boston Celtics lead the Chicago Bulls, 58-46.

The Celtics offense is clicking all-around. Nine players have scored in green uniforms, with Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce registering 10 a-piece. 

The Bulls haven't been to shabby on offense either, but their defense has allowed too many quality shots from Boston.

Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

Celtics 51, Bulls 38 - 2:59 remaining in the 2nd quarter.

Brandon Bass appears to be showing no ill effects from his finger injury early on. He comes up with back-to-back steals as well as a tip-in and a trip to the line.

The finger is taped up but hasn't hindered him at all. He has six points and four rebounds in 14 minutes.

Bass' solid play, coupled with the impressive Leandro Barbosa performance has extended the Celtics' lead. 

Boston's other injury isn't serious either as Jeff Green has a mild ankle sprain, but is due to return at some point.