Celtics Defeat Bulls 125-111 Led by Pritchard and Tatum
The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls 125-111 on October 30, 2026, in Boston, opening their NBA Cup campaign with a commanding performance built on an early offensive surge. Entering the matchup following an earlier 35-point victory against the same opponent on October 26, the Celtics raced to a 44-25 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Payton Pritchard Leads Boston After Early October Meeting
Payton Pritchard set the tone for the hosts early, scoring 20 of his 30 total points in the first half. Pritchard finished the night shooting 9 of 17 from the field, adding 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Jayson Tatum supported the offensive effort with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, while Paul George contributed 18 points and 8 assists for the winning side.
The Celtics built their advantage up to 32 points with 1:52 left in the first half before Boston’s starters were pulled. That early dominance in the paint yielded 56 points for Boston. Even as Chicago attempted a fourth-quarter rally after the primary rotations had left the floor, the early deficit proved too steep to overcome.
Chicago Bulls Struggle With Turnovers and Perimeter Shooting
For Chicago, the loss marked their fourth defeat. Caleb Wilson led the Bulls with 23 points, Norman Powell added 16, and Matas Buzelis chipped in 14. Ball security remained a persistent issue for the visitors. After turning the ball over 25 times in their previous meeting on October 26, the Bulls committed 16 turnovers on Friday, which Boston converted into 21 points.
Shooting efficiency further compounded Chicago’s difficulties. The team connected on just 38 percent of their field goal attempts, making 35 of 92 shots, and hit 30 percent from beyond the arc on 15 of 50 shooting. Despite grabbing a 51-41 advantage in total rebounds over the course of the four quarters, the Bulls could not offset their perimeter shooting struggles and early defensive lapses.
Upcoming Schedule for Both Teams
The victory extends Boston’s winning streak to four games as they prepare to visit the Orlando Magic on November 1, 2026, with tip-off scheduled for 2:00 AM. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls look to halt their four-game skid when they travel to face Philadelphia on Monday.
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Celtics give Tatum, George and White a seat with just over 3 minutes to go before Pritchard pushed th elead back to 20. Looks like Bulls will empty their bench now.