The Boston Celtics closed out the pre-All-Star break with a 124-105 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night at TD Garden, using early ball movement and shooting efficiency to build a decisive lead. Boston improved to 35-19 and remained second in the Eastern Conference standings, while Chicago fell to 24-31.
Payton Pritchard led the scoring with 26 points and added eight assists, controlling the pace as the home team shot 52 percent from the field. Jaylen Brown followed with 24 points, attacking the paint and creating advantages in transition.
The hosts created separation early and held a 28-point lead at halftime after hitting 18 three-pointers and forcing Chicago into difficult half-court possessions. Boston’s lead reached 33 in the second half as the bench maintained spacing and defensive pressure.
Nikola Vucevic recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds against his former team, marking his second double-double in three games since the trade deadline. The center added four triples, stretching the floor and opening lanes for guards.
Derrick White contributed nine assists and two blocks, helping the Celtics finish with a team-high 29 assists and a plus-14 turnover margin impact. Boston also won the rebound battle 48-34, limiting second-chance opportunities for the visitors.
Chicago struggled offensively without several injured rotation players, including Isaac Okoro, Josh Giddey and Tre Jones. The Bulls shot 46 percent overall and 33 percent from three-point range while committing 13 turnovers.
Rob Dillingham led the Bulls with 16 points and seven assists, generating most of Chicago’s offensive rhythm late in possession. Matas Buzelis added 15 points and eight rebounds and provided energy on both ends.
Facing his former club, Anfernee Simons finished with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting, falling below 15 points for the first time in four starts with Chicago. The guard struggled to create consistent space against Boston’s perimeter defense.
Boston’s bench production played a key role, with Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh combining for 26 points and showing strong defensive activity. The Celtics’ second unit maintained the pace, preventing Chicago from breaking the deficit.
The win marked Boston’s sixth win in the last seven games, boosting its momentum heading into the break. The Bulls, meanwhile, extended their losing streak to six.
Both teams will resume play on Thursday, February 19, with Boston visiting Golden State and Chicago hosting Toronto. The result keeps the Celtics within range of the league-leading Detroit Pistons, while keeping the Bulls out of play-in range.
#Celtics #overpower #Bulls #Pritchards #points #TalkBasket.net