(My Sportsbook) - The Boston Celtics will try to continue their recent dominance over the Chicago Bulls when the two clubs square off Tuesday night at the United Center.

Boston also hopes to secure its second consecutive Atlantic Division title tonight. Just three years ago the mighty Celtics finished last in the Atlantic before general manager Danny Ainge made blockbuster deals for All-Stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to turn the franchise around.

The Celtics dominated the division last season finishing 25 games ahead of Toronto and clinching the Atlantic crown on March 14, 2008, en route to their record 17th NBA title.

A year later, the C's hold a commanding 15 1/2-game lead on long time rival Philadelphia and can secure the division with a win just days after doing it last year.

Boston has won the first two meetings with Chicago this season and six in a row overall, including a 126-108 pounding in the last matchup on December 19 at TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics have also won two straight in the Windy City, but the Bulls are 6-3 in the past nine as the host in this series.

The Atlantic Division-leading Celtics are caught in a recent funk, having lost three of their last four games. In the opener of a quick two-game road trip on Sunday, Boston suffered an 86-77 setback at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee.

Kendrick Perkins had a career-high 26 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to pace Boston, which fell to 6-5 over the past 11 games without Garnett (knee). Garnett is still sidelined indefinitely.

Paul Pierce had 15 points and 11 boards for defending champion Boston, which fell to 23-11 away from Beantown this season. The Celtics are also 3 1/2 games behind Cleveland for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. In other injury news for the C's, forward Glen Davis will miss Tuesday's game with an ankle problem and guard Eddie House (ankle/heel) is listed as questionable against Chicago.

The Bulls are still alive in the playoff chase and sit tied with the Bucks for the eighth and final postseason berth in the East. They will try for their seventh straight win at home this evening and kicked off a brief two-game homestand with a 97-79 victory versus New Orleans on Saturday.

Ben Gordon scored 27 points and John Salmons tallied 24 for the Bulls, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Brad Miller notched 15 points and nine boards to lift Chicago to a 20-11 home record this season.