Jaylen Brown has been on a tear in recent weeks.
Jaylen Brown has been on a tear in recent weeks.Amanda Loman/Associated Press
The Celtics are back in Boston to open a four-game homestand after a five-game road trip.
The Celtics went 4-1 on their travels, winning the last three in a row to enter Monday night’s game against the Bulls with a streak to extend.
Boston has continued to lean heavily on Jaylen Brown, who has emerged as one of the league’s best scorers in the absence of Jayson Tatum. After matching his career-high with 50 points on Saturday against the Clippers, Brown is averaging 30.1 points per game, fourth-most in the NBA.
“I feel like I’m the best two-way player in the game, so I want to take on the challenge each and every night, try to help my team get wins,” Brown told NBC Sports Boston. “We have a tough schedule coming up, so I’m going to try to keep it going.”
The Bulls have had a middling season at 17-18 but have won four in a row on the road. Chicago is also shorthanded as guards Josh Giddey (hamstring) and Coby White (calf) have missed the last three games and are not expected to play Monday.
The Celtics have a clean injury report aside from Tatum’s continuing rehab from Achilles surgery.
Tip-off Monday night is set for 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden and on NBC Sports Boston. Here’s a preview.
When: Monday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Boston -11.5. O/U: 235.0.
BULLS
Season record: 17-18. vs. spread: 16-17, 2 pushes. Over/under: 16-19
Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 4-6
CELTICS
Season record: 22-12. vs. spread: 20-14. Over/under: 16-18
Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 6-4. Over/under: 4-6
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Chicago 118.3, Boston 117.9
Points allowed per game: Chicago 121.8, Boston 110.7
Field goal percentage: Chicago .474, Boston .476
Opponent field goal percentage: Chicago .476, Boston .451
3-point percentage: Chicago .360, Boston .367
Opponent 3-point percentage: Chicago .366, Boston .370
Stat of the day: Brown joined Tatum (five times) and Larry Bird (four times) as the only players in franchise history with multiple games of 50-plus points.
Notes: Brown scored 50 on Saturday almost exactly four years after his last 50-point performance, which he achieved on Jan. 2, 2022, against Orlando. The Celtics beat the Clippers, 146-115, on Saturday. “I thought that was an honor, to be able to watch a performance like that,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said. “I thought his defense was tremendous from start to end, and I thought that was one of the most complete games that I have seen him play.” ... The Bulls are coming off a 112-99 loss to Charlotte at home Saturday. Chicago was 11-of-41 from 3-point territory in the loss and missed 17 straight field goal attempts in the third quarter. “We didn’t shoot it great,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “We didn’t shoot it great [during Friday’s victory over Orlando], but we did a lot of things to generate points, and I don’t think we did those things as well tonight. [In the NBA, it’s] can you come back and do it again? I’m a believer shots are going to come and go, but I always believe you can block out better, you can put your body in plays on drives, communicate. We have to fight for the margins.” ... At 22-12, the Celtics are third in the Eastern Conference, 3 ½ games behind the first-place Pistons. ... Boston is 10-5 at home this season.
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.