The Chicago Bulls are looking to avoid losing their third straight game when they visit the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on Wednesday night. The Celtics return home after a five-game road trip, where they won three games, and are looking forward to winning their fourth game in a row at home.

The Bulls lost to the Phoenix Suns on Monday in heartbreaking fashion after Mirza Teletovic hit a follow-up basket with 0.3 seconds left. Chicago blew a 16-point fourth quarter lead in the 103-101 loss that dropped them to third in the Eastern Conference standings.

Pau Gasol continued his strong season as he led the Bulls with 22 points, 10 rebounds and six assists with two steals and three blocks. Jimmy Butler added 19 points, four rebounds and three assists while Derrick Rose had 14 points, six rebounds and four assists but had five turnovers.

"We got a 16-point lead, play our best defensive quarter of the year, outscore them, 26-10 in the third and follow that up with our worst defensive quarter of the year. And just couldn't find a way to get a rebound. They score 28 second-chance points, a lot of those came at key times," Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said after the game.

"You have to have that killer instinct. We have yet to find it this year," the coach added. The Bulls have not been consistent since their four-game winning streak was ended by the Golden State Warriors last Nov. 20.

The Celtics are feeling pretty good after an 111-93 blowout win last Monday against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center to end their five-game trip. Isaiah Thomas had 22 points, two rebounds, five assists and shooting 69 percent from the field with four 3-point shots made.

"It's just the ball was going in the basket. I was in the right position in the offense. Teammates found me. We played a pretty good game, I guess," Thomas said. Kelly Olynyk added 21 points off the bench while Jae Crowder had 17 points and Jared Sullinger grabbed a career-high 20 rebounds.

"I think the basketball gods just kind of said, 'Hey, you're not going to make a lot of shots. Just do something else.'" Sullinger said, who only shot 30 percent from the field. The Bulls have dominated the Celtics since 2012, winning 11 of the last 15 matchups including a season sweep during the 2014 season and winning 3-1 last year.

Tip-off in Boston starts at 7 p.m. ET and is nationally televised on ESPN. It will be broadcasted locally via CSNHD and CSN-Chicago.