The Chicago Bulls (4-10) are searching for their third road win of the season, and spent Monday on the receiving end of a home loss to the Dallas Mavericks, 103-98. Zach LaVine finished the match-up with 26 points, five rebounds and five assists, going 0-of-6 from long range but making all but one of his 11 attempts from the charity stripe. Jabari Parker logged 16 points six boards and a pair of assists, while Chandler Hutchison pulled up just short of a double-double off the bench with nine points and nine rebounds to his name. It was revealed earlier in the week that Lauri Markkanen, who shone in the Bulls' 2017-18 campaign, is now expected to miss up to 11 weeks with his elbow injury. Chicago could use all the help they can get offensively, as they currently rank 23rd in the NBA in scoring, putting up a nightly average of 105.9 points. The Bulls are in fourth place in the Central Division.

The Boston Celtics (7-6) will have had three days to lick their wounds following their Sunday road loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, 100-94. Boston appeared anemic in defeat, shooting 39 and 33 percent from field goal and long range, respectively, and were led in scoring by Jayson Tatum, who had 27 points, eight rebounds and shot 5-of-9 from downtown. Kyrie Irving managed 21 points, six assists and five steals, going 9-of-24 from the paint, while Marcus Morris subbed in for 13 points, six boards and three triples. Boston have now dropped two straight and are now looking fallible after being heralded as a contender out of the East this season. The Celtics have fallen to sixth place in the conference, behind the Charlotte Hornets in fifth.