Celtics Crush Bulls In Cup Start
Boston built a 32-point lead before halftime, capping a dominant performance with a 125-111 victory.
By Katherine Brooks ·
The NBA Cup season opened on Friday night with a decisive victory for the Boston Celtics, who defeated the Chicago Bulls 125-111. The game marked the first contest of the tournament for both franchises.
Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 30 points, shooting 9 of 17 from the field. Jayson Tatum contributed 26 points in 34 minutes, while Paul George added 18 points and eight assists. Boston has now won four straight games.
Boston controlled the pace early, building a 32-point lead with 1 minute 52 seconds remaining in the first half. The Bulls did not reduce the deficit until the fourth quarter, after Boston had already benched its starting lineup.
The Celtics dominated inside the arc, scoring 56 points in the paint. Chicago struggled with consistency, shooting just 38% from the field and 30% from three-point range. The Bulls committed 16 turnovers, which Boston converted into 21 points.
Caleb Wilson led the Bulls with 23 points. Norman Powell scored 16, and Matas Buzelis added 14. Chicago has lost four consecutive games following this defeat.
The result extends Boston's strong run against Chicago this season. The Celtics beat the Bulls by 35 points on Monday, converting 25 turnovers into 39 points in that contest. The Bulls will play in Philadelphia on Monday, while Boston visits Orlando on Sunday.
Source: WHDH
