Nikola Vucevic will face his old team for the first time on Wednesday.
Nikola Vucevic will face his old team for the first time on Wednesday.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Just one more game stands between the Celtics and a week off for the All-Star break.
Well, all the Celtics except for Jaylen Brown, who was named an All-Star starter for the first time and will compete in the “USA vs. World” format in Inglewood, Calif.
Wednesday’s game will probably feature plenty of hugs and handshakes as Celtics big man Nikola Vucevic and Bulls guard Anfernee Simons each face their former teams. The two were swapped ahead of the trade deadline last week.
Simons has averaged 20 points in his first three games with Chicago.
“I think even before [the trade], it was always going to be a job interview with this being the last year of my contract,” Simons said. “I’ve just got to make the most out of these last couple of months here, start building chemistry with the guys and see where that goes.”
Vucevic has averaged 11 points and nine rebounds coming off the bench in his two games with Boston.
The Celtics are coming off a blowout loss to the Knicks on Sunday which snapped a five-game win streak.
The Bulls have lost five straight and eight of their last nine heading into Wednesday. Chicago is expected to be without forward Jalen Smith (calf) and guards Josh Giddy (hamstring) and Tre Jones (hamstring), with all three listed as doubtful.
Sam Hauser (back) and Neemias Queta (ankle) are both probable.
Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. at TD Garden and on NBC Sports Boston.
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: TD Garden, Boston
TV, radio: NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5
Line: Boston -13.5. O/U: 225.5.
BULLS
Season record: 24-30. vs. spread: 23-29, 2 pushes. Over/under: 26-28
Last 10 games: 2-8. vs. spread: 2-8. Over/under: 6-4
CELTICS
Season record: 34-19. vs. spread: 29-24. Over/under: 19-34
Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 4-6. Over/under: 1-9
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Chicago 117.0, Boston 115.1
Points allowed per game: Chicago 120.6, Boston 108.4
Field goal percentage: Chicago .471, Boston .466
Opponent field goal percentage: Chicago .478, Boston .443
3-point percentage: Chicago .367, Boston .362
Opponent 3-point percentage: Chicago .375, Boston .361
Stat of the day: The Bulls are 17-17 when Josh Giddey — who is not expected to play Wednesday — is in the lineup and 7-13 without him.
Notes: The Celtics, who have been tinkering with their lineup since acquiring Vucevic, overcame a 22-point deficit to defeat Miami 98-96 on Friday, then had their five-game winning streak come to an end with a 111-89 loss to New York on Sunday. “We’re playing a little different,” said Derrick White. “We got some new guys in new spots and so I wouldn’t say we’re as crisp as we were maybe a few weeks ago when we’ve had all offseason and the beginning of the year to figure those parts out, but it’s exciting we can continue to learn and grow. Just understand it’s going to take day-by-day to get guys comfortable, get guys in the right spots. We got a lot of guys that know how to play and so I think we’ll pick it up quickly.” ... Baylor Scheierman has started four of Boston’s last six games. He had career highs for rebounds (13) and assists (five) to go along with 10 points against the Knicks. “We’ve tinkered with [the starting lineup] all year,” Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said after the loss to New York. “I think we’re up to 15 or 17 different ones, so nothing’s changed. Everybody on our roster has a chance to impact winning, we have a chance to develop, do different things there.”
Amin Touri can be reached at amin.touri@globe.com.