The defending-champion Celtics' streak ties the 1964-65 team for the third-longest in franchise history, behind only the 1981-82 (18) and 1959-60 (17) teams. The Celtics (24-2) are among four NBA teams to start a season with at least 23 wins in their first 25 games. The last to do so were the 1995-96 Bulls.

''Every game is a big game for someone, and in some ways it's made every game a big game for us, too,'' Celtics coach Glenn ''Doc'' Rivers told the Boston Globe. ''It's helped us. The next game we have, they'll be excited, too, and the next game after that. Every road game is sold out. In a crazy way, it's benefitted us. Where we would have that early-season lull, that midseason lull, you can't because the [road games are] sold out and they want to beat you really bad.

''In some ways, this has to help us late [in the season]. Being attacked every night can't be a bad thing. But it's exhausting at times. Our practices now are tough because of that, because they are exuding a lot every night.''

The Celtics have proved exhausting to the Bulls since last season, winning the last five meetings. In last season's sweep, they won the four games by an average of 18.3 points.

The Celtics handed the Bulls a 96-80 loss in Boston on Halloween night, the Bulls' first road game of the season. Derrick Rose led the Bulls with 18 points as they dug an early hole and trailed by 28.

''It's going to be exciting,'' Rose said of the rematch. ''We're playing kind of good. We just have to get on the same page with the scoring, moving the ball, stuff like that. We just have to go there and compete harder.''

This will be the Bulls' third game in a stretch of four in five nights. After losing in overtime Tuesday at Charlotte, they battled back for a 115-109 victory against the Clippers. Ben Gordon, who tied Andres Nocioni with a team-high 22 points, was fouled while making a three-pointer with 20.5 seconds left in regulation, then tied the score with his free throw.

''It was almost like a must-win for us, especially playing at home and coming off the loss,'' Gordon said. ''Boston is obviously a tough team. We know that in order to beat them, we're going to have to play with a lot of energy. We can't get down early. We're going to have to scrap for everything.''

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Tonight

Bulls AT Celtics

The facts: 6:30, CSN, 1000-AM.

The story line: The defending-champion Celtics can match the franchise's second-longest winning streak (17) with a victory tonight. The Bulls will try to snap a five-game skid against the Celtics, including a 96-80 loss in Boston in their first road game of the season. Kevin Garnett led the Celtics with 18 points and 10 rebounds in that game.

Brian Hanley