Avery Bradley led a balanced offensive attack as Boston Celtics advanced to the second round of the NBA playoffs with a 105-83 rout of Chicago Bulls on Friday.
Bradley led the way with 23 points as all five Celtics starters scored in double figures to close out their best-of-seven Eastern Conference series in six games.
It was an emotional series victory for Boston. Celtics had to win four straight after dropping the first two games of the series. In addition they had to rally around teammate Isaiah Thomas who lost his sister in a fatal car accident.
With the victory, Celtics advance to face Washington Wizards, which eliminated Atlanta Hawks with a 115-99 victory earlier.
Gerald Green tallied 16 points for Celtics, while Jae Crowder, Thomas and Al Horford each scored 12 in the series clinching victory.
Jimmy Butler scored 23 points for Bulls, who squandered a 2-0 lead after a pair of lopsided victories in Boston. Butler posted a team-high point total in game six despite being hampered by a knee problem.
The results: Eastern Conference: Washington Wizards 115 bt Atlanta Hawks 99; Boston Celtics 105 bt Chicago Bulls 83.
Western Conference: Los Angeles Clippers 98 bt Utah Jazz 93 . AFP
