The Boston Celtics closed the pre–All-Star break stretch 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, remaining second in the Eastern Conference standings, while Chicago dropped to 24-31.
Payton Pritchard led the scoring with 26 points and added eight assists, controlling the pace as the home side 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, carrying a 28-point halftime lead after hitting 18 three-pointers and forcing Chicago into difficult half-court possessions. Boston’s advantage reached 33 in the second half as its 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 move. The center added four made threes, stretching the floor and opening driving lanes for guards.
Derrick White contributed nine assists and two blocks, helping the Celtics finish with 29 team assists and a plus-14 turnover margin impact. Boston also won the rebounding battle 48-34, which limited 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 paced the Bulls with 16 points and seven assists, generating most of Chicago’s offensive rhythm late in possessions. Matas Buzelis added 15 points and eight rebounds, providing energy on both ends.
Anfernee Simons, facing his former club, finished with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting and fell 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 significant role, with Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh combining for 26 points and strong defensive activity. The Celtics’ second unit maintained tempo, which prevented Chicago from cutting into the deficit.
The win marked Boston’s sixth victory in its last seven games, reinforcing momentum heading into the break. The Bulls, meanwhile, extended their losing streak to six.
Both teams resume play on Thursday, Feb. 19, with Boston visiting Golden State and Chicago hosting Toronto. The result keeps the Celtics within reach of the conference-leading Detroit Pistons, while the Bulls remain outside the play-in range.
