CHICAGO – Derrick Rose envisioned this for the Bulls when training camp started. Now Chicago is close to wrapping up the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Rose scored 30 points Thursday night and the Chicago Bulls closed in on the top seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the Boston Celtics, 97-81.

The Bulls’ 17th win in 19 games put them four games up on Boston and Miami with four to play and eliminated the Heat from getting the No. 1 seed. It also gave them a four-game split with the Celtics.

Boston, which plays the Heat on Sunday, still has a mathematical shot at the top spot albeit a remote one. But barring a collapse, Chicago will be the top seed in the East.

It’s another step for a team that expected big things after a major overhaul, and all the Bulls have done is deliver their best season since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen made championship celebrations a regular event.

“I always said that we could compete with some of the best teams in the NBA,” Rose said. “At training camp and in the beginning of the year, I thought, ‘my team’s ready to fight.’ I just saw what we were going through in training camp. Guys were keyed in and focused, making sure that they came in very, very hungry, wanting to win.”

Rose was a one-man highlight reel against Rajon Rondo, beating him with his crossover and getting to the rim, particularly in the early going. Rose scored 16 points in the first half as the Bulls took a 48-43 lead, and Chicago regrouped after momentarily falling behind in the third.

Luol Deng scored 23 points, and Carlos Boozer added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

“Like it or not these are probably the guys who we’ll meet in the conference finals or wherever,” Rondo said.

Paul Pierce led Boston with 15 points. Kevin Garnett scored all 10 of his points in the second half and Rondo scored his seven over the final two quarters.

Jeff Green finished with 10 and Ray Allen had seven points.

“We’ve got to be better than this,” Garnett said. “No way we can come out and put an effort like this in a game this big.”

Rondo said, “This better be a wakeup call. If not, we won’t make it far.”

Pierce made a jumper and Rondo hit his first two baskets to start the second half and give Boston a one-point lead, but the Bulls responded by running off 10 straight.

CELTICS CENTER Shaquille O’Neal missed his second straight game with a strained right calf.

O’Neal, a 15-time All-Star, returned Sunday against Detroit after missing 27 games because of a sore right leg but lasted just 5 minutes, 29 seconds before leaving again. He did not play against Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Coach Doc Rivers said he thinks O’Neal will be healthy when the playoffs start, but isn’t sure what to expect from him, adding that’s “the wait-and-see part about our team.”

NOTES: Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard was suspended one game by the NBA for receiving his 18th technical foul of the season, and guard Quentin Richardson received a two-game suspension for shoving Charlotte’s Gerald Henderson in the face. Howard received a technical Wednesday night in the second quarter against the Bobcats and it was upheld by the league Thursday. Under NBA rules, a player or coach is automatically suspended without pay for one game once he receives his 16th technical foul during a regular season. For every two additional technical fouls received during that regular season, the player or coach receives an automatic one-game suspension. … Miami guard Dwyane Wade went through a workout to test his deeply bruised thigh and said he hopes he can play tonight when the Heat host Charlotte.