Celtics Look to Repeat Their Early-Week Rout of the Bulls

By NBA Stat Desk How we produce articles

Boston hosts Chicago days after a 134-99 blowout at TD Garden.

CHI @ BOS Oct 30, 2026 at 11:30 PM UTC

The most important context is also the most recent. Boston beat Chicago 134-99 at TD Garden on Monday, Oct. 26, a 35-point margin that lifted the Celtics to 2-1. One lopsided result does not guarantee another, but it leaves the Bulls with a lot to fix in a short time, against the same opponent and in the same building.

Payton Pritchard is the clearest reason for that concern. He scored 28 points off the bench and hit seven of his 10 three-point attempts. He had also struggled through Boston's first two games before attacking the paint aggressively against Chicago. That combination matters because it forces a defense to defend both the rim and the arc. If the Bulls overcommit to one, Pritchard has shown he can punish the other.

Jayson Tatum gives Boston a steadier second path. He finished the earlier meeting with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists, a line that shows he can score and also set up teammates. If Chicago tries to take away Pritchard's looks, Tatum's passing should create openings elsewhere. The Celtics also play with Devin Carter's absence already built in. He had been ruled out with an illness for a fourth straight game to start the season, and Boston still produced 134 points without him.

Chicago's best hope is to avoid the early deficit that turned the first meeting into a rout and make Boston work for its looks. Even so, the Celtics have the more dependable scoring options, and Pritchard's recent breakout adds to a lineup that already has Tatum. Expect Chicago to compete better than it did on Monday, but Boston should still control the game through shooting and ball movement.

Prediction: Celtics 119, Bulls 102.

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