Bulls pull out last-second victory against Celtics on Derrick Rose Night

A tough conversation is coming.

Maybe not Monday, when the Bulls host the Lakers, or even Wednesday, when they visit the Pacers, but very soon.

The Bulls’ 114-111 triumph Saturday against the Celtics on Derrick Rose Night was just the latest reminder of that. Guard Kevin Huerter made a three-pointer from the corner with a second left to break a tie and deliver the Bulls’ fourth victory in a row.

The Bulls (23-22) have been good lately. And good always seems to be enough when it comes to their front office.

A big reason for the uptick has been the emergence of forward Jalen Smith, specifically since coach Billy Donovan inserted him into the starting lineup because of injuries to guards Coby White and Josh Giddey.

Both players since have returned, although Giddey is still on a 24-minute restriction and hasn’t started the last two games. That means Smith’s tandem with center Nikola Vucevic has been able to continue cooking.

Donovan said before the game that Giddey was getting closer to returning to his starting spot, so who will be the odd player out? It won’t be White, who arguably is the Bulls’ best scorer. It can’t be Vucevic, the team’s best big man. Forward Isaac Okoro is the only wing defender the starting unit has, and the Bulls aren’t looking to stunt the development of forward Matas Buzelis.

So whom, then?

‘‘Those are going to be decisions that are going to have to happen,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘That’s a hard look, and we have to take a look at that because the metrics of Vooch and Jalen together have been really, really good. It’s helped us from a rebounding standpoint both offensively and defensively. It’s given us rim protection and size. I think Jalen has played really well.’’

Donovan began using the two-big-man look in November, but he used it off the bench with Smith and backup center Zach Collins. When Collins went down with a toe injury, Donovan tried to stagger Smith and Vucevic to keep size on the floor at all times.

The injuries piled up, however, and he had no choice but to start Smith alongside Vucevic. It has more than clicked, with the two developing a good chemistry.

‘‘Before Zach went down, the combination was more Zach and Jalen,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘But Jalen and Vooch have done really well. I think we have to look to play big.’’

The Bulls are 6-2 when Smith starts.

As for Huerter, he said the victory was just another step forward for a team still competing for more than play-in status.

‘‘Hopefully it means we’re building, starting to do the right things,’’ he said. ‘‘We’re just finding a rhythm, finding a consistency.’’

Jones update

The news Friday that guard Tre Jones would be sidelined for a couple of weeks with a strained left hamstring wasn’t great, but Donovan painted a brighter picture a day later.

‘‘I think when [Giddey] first had [the same injury], he felt a real tightness,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘I don’t think [Jones] feels bad. He hasn’t run or done anything like that. They’ll start to do that just to see where he’s at. There is some hope and optimism that after these two weeks, he’ll be able to get a few games in [before the All-Star break].’’

More Mr. Smith

With his 14-point performance against the Celtics, Smith has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games. That tied the longest such streak of his career, last accomplished with the Suns.