CHICAGO (AP) – Rookie Kirk Hinrich set a season high with 14 assists and matched a best with 23 points Thursday night in the Chicago Bulls’ 107-87 victory over the Boston Celtics.

Hours after Chicago’s Jerome Williams criticized some of his teammates for not knowing the plays, the Bulls responded with their most lopsided victory of the season.

Jamal Crawford, who led the Bulls with 27 points, and Hinrich took turns hitting 3-pointers against Boston’s soft defense. Hinrich made six 3s, Crawford had four Chicago finished 11-of-23 from long range.

And the Bulls, especially Crawford, played tough defense on Boston All-Star Paul Pierce. Pierce managed just four points – matching a season low – as Boston fell to 1-7 under interim coach John Carroll. Chris Mihm led the Celtics with 14 points.

The Bulls had lost 13 of their previous 15 games, including seven of their previous eight, but for one night the Celtics made them well. Hinrich, coming off a two-point performance two nights ago against Indiana, had 18 points in the first two quarters to spark Chicago’s highest-scoring half of the season. The Bulls took a 61-46 lead behind Hinrich’s 3-point shooting – he hit five of six – and his 11 assists. Chicago shot 55 percent in the opening half and played tough defense on Pierce, allowing him just three points on 1-of-5 shooting. Hinrich had three of his 3-pointers in the second quarter when the Bulls used a 19-6 run to build up a lead as large as 19 points.

and finished the pivotal period making 12 of 19 shots.

After the Celtics cut the lead back to 11 early in the third, Crawford got wide open for a pair of 3-pointers and Hinrich punctuated a 23-7 run with his sixth 3-pointer, giving Chicago a 92-65 lead.

Notes: Williams was direct with his criticism for players not knowing where to be on the floor. “No team I have been on has ever been like that,” Williams said. “You do say something, but I can’t make somebody learn the plays. … That’s the least they can expect – know their jobs. That’s like a trash man going to work and not knowing where to pick up their garbage.”… Suspended Celts forward Vin Baker missed his 10th straight game, a number that could allow the team to terminate his contract. Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge said he doesn’t know when or if Baker will return to the team. … Pierce also scored four points against the Rockets on Jan. 14. … The Bulls led by as many as 32.

AP-ES-02-12-04 2301EST