BOSTON STYLE TO THE NINES

Injury-hit NBA leaders display their depth to see off Bulls for ninth straight victory

LOS ANGELES - With Jayson Tatum back, it was the turn of Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis to rest nagging injuries on March 23 but the Boston Celtics did not miss a beat.

Their laser-focused mindset and insatiable appetite for success were key in beating the Chicago Bulls 124-113 to extend their National Basketball Association (NBA) winning streak to nine games.

Tatum back after sitting out a victory over the Pistons in Detroit on March 22 - led the way with 26 points, while Sam Hauser made seven of the Celtics' 21 three-pointers, missing just once from beyond the arc on the way to 23 points.

"We're just hungry for more. It's not in our character to just, like, mail it in for the rest of the season," Hauser said of his team, who have used eight different starting lineups during their nine-game winning run.

AI Horford also scored 23 at United Centre, after drilling five three-pointers and the Celtics, who led 95-92 going into the fourth quarter, relentlessly pulled away.

They took a 10-point lead on Tatum's finger roll lay-up with just over three minutes remaining and a Hauser three-pointer pushed the lead to 13 with 89 seconds to play.