The Boston Celtics came into game four hoping to regain homecourt advantage after dropping games one and two in Boston.
Gerald Green, starting his second consecutive playoff game after playing just 11.4 minutes per game in the regular season, knocked down two three-pointers early for Boston. The Celtics opened the game on a 14-4 run after connecting on five of their first six shots.
The Celtics didn’t slow down after their hot start and led the Bulls 30-18 after the first. Neither Isaiah Thomas nor Jimmy Butler attempted a free throw in game three. Both players were much more aggressive about getting to the line in this game.
Butler attempted eight free throws in the quarter, making five of them. Thomas sunk all five of his attempts. Butler led Chicago with 11 points in the quarter, while Thomas led Boston with 10. Gerald Green scored eight points and pulled down five rebounds in eight minutes, then opened the second quarter with his third three-pointer of the game.
Green continued to shoot the ball with confidence, matching his postseason career-high of 16 points with 9:16 to go in the second quarter.
At one point in the second, things got a bit frisky in the second as a small dispute broke out. Marcus Smart and Jimmy Butler were issued technical fouls:
Things got a little chippy between Jimmy Butler and Marcus Smartpic.twitter.com/TVT1Ktw3Pd
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 23, 2017
The Celtics led by as many as 20 points in the quarter, but the Bulls trailed by just 11 at the half. Jimmy Butler had a great half for Chicago, scoring a game-high 17 points to go with five assists and four rebounds.
Gerald Green was the story of the first half for Boston; he scored 16 points on 6-9 shooting and was a game-high plus-15.
The Bulls got off to a strong start in the second half. They used a 7-0 run to pull within six points (59-53). That run was ended by a ferocious dunk by (who else?) Gerald Green:
Gerald Green. difference maker pic.twitter.com/23Tkkdn1gG
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 24, 2017
The Bulls wouldn’t give in, though. Isaiah Canaan drew a charge on Isaiah Thomas on the fast break, giving Thomas his fourth foul of the game. On the other end, Canaan knocked down a triple to cut the Boston lead to five.
Before long, the Bulls took their first lead of the game, 65-63. Boston promptly broke the Bulls’ momentum with a 12-0 run.
Near the end of the third quarter, Isaiah Thomas received a technical foul for informing Michael Carter-Williams that: “You can’t guard me!”
Now Isaiah Thomas and MCW are mixing it up pic.twitter.com/mFrZztw2Fh
— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) April 24, 2017
The Celtics closed the quarter on a 16-5 run and led 79-70. Thomas and Butler led all scorers with 26 points apiece.
Isaiah Thomas took over in the second half, scoring at will against the Bulls. The Bulls were unable to stop Thomas & co. in the fourth quarter, and despite a valiant effort, lost the game 104-95.
Thomas and Butler finished with 33 points each. Thomas was a game-high plus-17. Gerald Green had 18 points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes. Horford posted a double-double, with 15 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Isaiah Canaan scored 13 points off the bench for Chicago, and was the only Bull with a positive plus-minus (plus-11).
