Zach LaVine delivered a season-high 36 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 117-108 win over the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. The Bulls (13-15) used a dominant fourth quarter to secure their third consecutive victory, handing the Celtics (21-6) just their fourth home loss of the season.
Chicago capitalized on a 35-22 fourth-quarter surge, fueled by LaVine’s hot shooting and critical defensive stops. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 17 points, while Nikola Vucevic added 16 points and 14 rebounds to anchor the Bulls. Chicago’s offense thrived from beyond the arc, connecting on 19 three-pointers.
Jayson Tatum led Boston with 31 points and 10 rebounds, but the Celtics struggled to find rhythm late in the game. Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 20 points and eight rebounds, while Jaylen Brown added 19 points. Boston shot just 39.2% from the field and 25% from three-point range, a reflection of their offensive struggles under defensive pressure.
The Bulls set the tone early in the final quarter with a 17-4 run, taking a 99-90 lead. Boston cut the deficit to six before a sequence of technical fouls derailed their momentum. Head coach Joe Mazzulla and Jaylen Brown were assessed technical fouls after protesting a non-call, and LaVine capitalized by sinking both free throws. Moments later, LaVine hit a deep three-pointer to push Chicago’s lead back to eight.
Frustrations boiled over when Jayson Tatum received a technical foul late in the quarter, allowing Chicago to extend their advantage to double digits. Mazzulla’s postgame frustrations carried on as he had to be restrained by assistants when addressing officials.
Chicago’s win came despite the absence of Josh Giddey, sidelined with a sprained ankle. The Bulls’ bench stepped up, with Julian Phillips contributing 10 points and five rebounds. Coby White and Talen Horton-Tucker combined for 21 points, ensuring consistent production throughout the game.
Boston’s bench was led by Payton Pritchard, who scored 14 points, including four three-pointers, but the team failed to close out key possessions. Derrick White and Al Horford struggled to find offensive consistency, and Boston’s shot selection deteriorated under the Bulls’ relentless defensive pressure.
The loss snapped a stretch of three games where Chicago had held opponents to fewer than 10 three-pointers. While the Celtics managed to convert 14 triples, their accuracy faltered in critical moments.
