The Chicago Bulls finish their season-high nine-game road trip with a flourish. After trampling doormats New Jersey, New Orleans and Charlotte, the Bulls test their 6-2 road record against the Boston Celtics in Sunday’s best game, a matinee affair.
Unfortunately, after Saturday’s spectacular point guard matchup between youngsters Jeremy Lin and Ricky Rubio, the second act pitting established stars Derrick Rose against Rajon Rondo may have to wait.
Rose aggravated his back against the Nets on Monday, forcing him to sit out the second half and miss Friday’s 95-64 romp over the Bobcats.
“I really don’t know” Rose said about his status Sunday. “It’s just sore and stiff. I don’t know what to do. Hopefully it will heal in a matter of time.”
Hopefully in a matter of hours.
Rondo would probably like to show he belonged in the All-Star Game backing up Rose, the 
East’s starter who led Chicago (23-6) with 25 points in an 88-79 win over Boston on Jan. 13.
Rose’s injuries (toe and back) have caused him to miss six games this season – more than he’s missed in the last three years combined.
C.J. Watson has been able to alleviate some of the pain, leading the Bulls to a 5-1 record with Rose out by averaging 9.8 points over 20.9 minutes.
The Celtics (14-12) won nine of 10 before losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in OT on Thursday and the Toronto Raptors on Friday, earning an F for effort from their coach.
After the 86-74 loss at Toronto, coach Doc Rivers called his team “mentally weak,” “not professional” and “un-Celtic.”
That may just be Rivers trying to motivate his team for the big stage Sunday – particularly in the rebounding department.
The Bulls are second in the NBA with 45.1 rebounds per game while the Celtics are last with 38.9.
Bulls guard Richard Hamilton (thigh) is out.