Boston Celtics Clinch NBA Playoff Spot With Nets’ Blowout Loss To Bulls

The Boston Celtics are headed to the playoffs.

The C’s magic number after Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers was one, meaning either another win or an Indiana Pacers or Brooklyn Nets loss would put them in the postseason. The Pacers won Sunday, but the Nets didn’t play again until Monday.

That’s when Brooklyn helped out its Atlantic Division rival in a big way with a loss to the Chicago Bulls. Nikola Mirotic scored 26 points off the bench and Pau Gasol added 22 more to go with 11 rebounds as the Bulls steamrolled the Nets by a score of 113-86.

The Celtics are the No. 7 seed, but they hold only a one-game lead over Indiana. If they can retain their spot, they’ll face the Cavs in the first round of the playoffs. The eighth seed will take on the Atlanta Hawks.