NEW YORK — One New York hotel, two unhappy basketball teams.
The Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls are staying at the same location this weekend. Both lost their playoff openers Saturday, the Celtics falling 85-78 to the New York Knicks and the Bulls getting routed 106-89 by the Nets in Brooklyn.
“This was a quiet, dark hotel last night. The New York-area teams didn’t treat the guests very well,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Sunday.
Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau was an assistant under Rivers when the Celtics won the 2008 NBA title. They still talk, and Thibodeau said his old boss invited him out Friday, but he wasn’t able to go.
“Unfortunately, I missed the free dinner,” Thibodeau said. “It pained me to miss it.”
The Bulls play Game 2 against the Nets on Monday. Boston will try to even its series with the Knicks on Tuesday.
Neither visiting team practiced Sunday. Instead, both held meetings in the hotel, then met with reporters about 2 1/2 hours apart.
“It’s just not a good hotel today,” Rivers said. “Two losing teams. I think one should leave.”