Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics with a dominant performance, scoring 35 points and grabbing 14 rebounds to secure a 138-129 victory over the Chicago Bulls in Friday night’s NBA Cup group-stage matchup. The win improved Boston’s record to 16-3, while Chicago fell to 8-13.
Reserve guard Payton Pritchard had a season-high 29 points, including a critical 11-point outburst in the fourth quarter that helped Boston regain control of the game.
The Celtics, shooting 50% from the field, displayed offensive firepower in a contest that remained tightly contested through three quarters.
Nikola Vucevic paced the Bulls with a season-best 32 points and 11 rebounds, while Zach LaVine added 29 points. LaVine’s performance included four three-pointers, making him the Bulls’ all-time leader in made threes with 1,051, surpassing Kirk Hinrich’s previous mark.
Tied at 108 in the fourth quarter, Pritchard hit back-to-back three-pointers, sparking an 11-4 run that gave Boston a cushion it maintained until the final buzzer.
The Celtics’ bench contributed 34 points, with Pritchard accounting for all but five. Kristaps Porzingis and Jaylen Brown supported the starting unit, scoring 21 points each.
Chicago had entered the game with an opportunity to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the NBA Cup. However, the loss, coupled with Atlanta’s earlier win over Cleveland, eliminated the Bulls from advancing. Boston still has a chance to secure a wild-card spot but will need favorable results from Tuesday’s games.
The Celtics dominated the fourth quarter, shooting an impressive 15-for-23 from the floor. Pritchard hit 7-of-11 three-pointers, demonstrating his ability to rise to the occasion in high-pressure situations. Al Horford, Derrick White, and Sam Hauser added depth for Boston, while Tatum’s leadership and efficiency on both ends of the floor were pivotal.
For Chicago, Vucevic continued his strong play in the post, shooting 11-for-16 from the field and adding six three-pointers. The Bulls bench, led by Talen Horton-Tucker’s 16 points, provided a spark but could not overcome Boston’s offensive momentum.
