Unlike every match of the seven-game series last season, the outcome of this one was decided long before the end of regulation as Boston charged out in the second half and ran away for a 106-80 victory.

The teams played a record seven overtime periods in the playoffs last season because they were evenly matched. But with Kevin Garnett back on the court, the Celtics clearly are head and shoulders above the Bulls .

That reality sunk in about midway through the third quarter Saturday as the Celtics (19-4) won their 10th straight and the Bulls (8-14) lost for the 10th time in 12 games.

''We got down on ourselves a little bit when they started hitting some shots,'' center Joakim Noah said. ''We're getting down on each other a little bit. We have to stick together as a group and deal with adversity a little better.

''But we're not even close to being as good as they are right now. When you see the way they run their offense, the way they run their defense and the weapons that they have, they're a totally different team from last year.''

The Bulls , who have struggled offensively for much of the season, shot a season-low 32.6 percent (30-for-92), including 1-for-9 from three-point range.

Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 19 points, Luol Deng had 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Noah had a game-high 13 rebounds but was just 1-for-8 from the floor.

Rajon Rondo (16 points) led seven Celtics in double figures. Garnett had 12 points (6-for-8 shooting) and 10 rebounds in only 27 minutes.

''They made shots, we didn't,'' Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said. ''We missed free throws, we turned it over a little too much, and they executed well.

''I don't think our ball movement was as good in the second half. We attacked better in the first half.''

Despite playing an overtime game the previous night in a win over Golden State, the Bulls showed energy and precision early. They went toe-to-toe with the Celtics in the first quarter and had a 24-23 lead late before Boston closed with a 6-2 spurt for a 29-26 advantage heading into the second.

The Celtics opened some breathing room midway through the second with a 12-2 run for a 53-41 lead. The Bulls still were within striking distance (54-46) at halftime, but it was clear early in the second half that they didn't have the energy -- it was their fourth game in five nights -- or the firepower to overtake the Celtics.

Boston broke it open with 10 straight points for an 81-61 lead late in the third quarter. That left the fourth quarter to look more like a preseason game in which the teams empty their benches.

''We played pretty hard tonight,'' Noah said. ''I don't think we can get too down on ourselves. ... it sucks to lose, but we played against a better opponent.''

There's no debating that point.

THE RECAP

Boston 29 25 29 23--106

Bulls 26 20 17 17-- 80

Celtics min fg-a ft-a o-t a pf pts

Pierce 24:59 4-12 4-4 1-3 3 4 14

Garnett 26:52 6-8 0-2 2-10 2 1 12

Perkins 22:23 3-5 4-6 0-5 1 3 10

Rondo 38:31 6-13 4-5 0-7 14 2 16

RAllen 29:39 4-10 0-0 0-3 2 2 10

Wallace 21:32 5-12 4-4 3-5 0 3 15

House 20:40 5-15 2-3 1-3 0 1 15

TAllen 11:26 2-6 2-2 2-3 0 1 6

Williams 21:05 2-4 0-0 1-8 1 2 4

Scalabrine 16:22 0-0 0-0 0-2 1 2 0

Giddens 4:05 1-3 2-4 0-0 1 0 4

Hudson 2:27 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0

Totals 240 38-88 22-30 10-49 25 22 106

Percentages: FG .432, FT .733. 3-Point Goals: 8-26, .308 (House 3-10, R.Allen 2-4, Pierce 2-5, Wallace 1-5, Giddens 0-1, Rondo 0-1). Team Rebounds: 9. Team Turnovers: 9 (9 PTS). Blocked Shots: 13 (Perkins 3, House 2, Wallace 2, Williams 2, R.Allen, Garnett, Rondo, Scalabrine). Turnovers: 9 (Rondo 5, T.Allen 2, R.Allen, Garnett). Steals: 8 (Rondo 3, House 2, T.Allen, Pierce, Wallace).

Bulls min fg-a ft-a o-t a pf pts

Deng 32:43 5-16 7-12 2-4 1 2 17

Miller 23:38 5-10 1-1 2-6 0 4 11

Noah 32:10 1-8 0-0 3-13 2 2 2

Rose 35:21 8-19 3-5 2-5 3 1 19

Salmons 28:50 2-7 0-0 0-5 9 1 4

Gibson 33:53 3-9 6-7 3-11 1 4 12

Hinrich 20:32 1-6 0-0 0-0 1 2 2

Johnson 15:17 1-5 0-0 3-5 2 2 2

Gray 6:19 0-4 0-0 1-3 0 2 0

Pargo 8:50 4-8 2-2 0-2 0 2 11

Hunter 2:27 0-0 0-0 0-1 0 0 0

Totals 240 30-92 19-27 16-55 19 22 80

Percentages: FG .326, FT .704. 3-Point Goals: 1-9, .111 (Pargo 1-3, Deng 0-1, Hinrich 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Salmons 0-1, Miller 0-2). Team Rebounds: 15. Team Turnovers: 13 (18 PTS). Blocked Shots: 10 (Gibson 2, Johnson 2, Salmons 2, Deng, Hinrich, Noah, Rose). Turnovers: 12 (Noah 3, Hinrich 2, Salmons 2, Deng, Gibson, Johnson, Miller, Rose). Steals: 7 (Gibson 2, Deng, Miller, Noah, Rose, Salmons). Technical Fouls: Miller, 5:11 fourth. Flagrant Fouls: Miller, 8:32 first.

Officials--Tom Washington, James Capers, Olandis Poole. A--21,257. T--2:17.