YouTube We're bouncing around on today's episode of The Dunker Spot! Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones discuss the surging Boston Celtics, who recently climbed to the East's second seed. They discuss their current standing and the non-Jaylen Brown standouts,

This article was originally published on www.si.com/nba/celtics/onsi as Three Celtics NBA Trade Deadline Narratives to Monitor Before February 5. The Boston Celtics weren't supposed to be back at the top of the Eastern Conference, but with the calendar turning to 2026, that's where they find themselves ahead of the February 5 NBA trade deadline.

The Hawks look ready to deal Trae Young and that could change the trade landscape across the Eastern Conference.

At the start of the Boston Celtics home game against the Chicago Bulls, it seemed like neither ball club could hit a shot. Then, at the end of the first frame, the Celtics started to pull away, and survived a late push by the Bulls in the game's fourth quarter to come away with a 115-101 victory that would propel them into the Eastern Conference's second-place spot.

The Boston Celtics have won seven of their last eight games and are suddenly within reach of the top of the Eastern Conference.

Don't look now, but the Jayson Tatum-less Boston Celtics are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference standings.

"I think I understood coming into the game like how tough the game was going to be, mentally and physically," he said.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla was proud that his Celtics found a way to grit out an ugly win over the Bulls on Monday night.