CHICAGO — Jayson Tatum delivered an outstanding performance, recording a season-high of 43 points to go along with 16 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the Boston Celtics to a commanding 123-98 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. This win marked Tatum’s third career triple-double.
Kristaps Porzingis contributed significantly to the Celtics’ success, scoring 22 points, while Jaylen Brown added 19 points, helping the team bounce back from a previous loss to the Bulls, which ended 117-108 in favor of Chicago just two nights earlier.
Tatum showcased his skills especially during the third quarter, where he scored 18 of his points and propelled the Celtics on a 19-8 run, allowing Boston to take a commanding 93-77 lead by the end of the third period.
On the Bulls’ side, Nikola Vucevic led the way with 19 points and provided 10 assists, but unfortunately for Chicago, their winning streak of three games came to an end. Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Patrick Williams each contributed 14 points in the game.
In the second half, the game saw a moment of concern as referee Aaron Smith was forced to leave the court due to a hip injury.
Key takeaways from the match include Tatum’s gradual improvement after a slow start, as he managed to accumulate 16 points and nine assists by halftime. Brown’s early scoring was pivotal in keeping the Celtics competitive in the first half.
The Bulls struggled offensively, shooting only 37.9% from the field and missing several high-percentage shots, including airballs and uncontested dunks. Furthermore, guard Josh Giddey sat out again due to an ankle injury and will have to complete some medical “protocols” before making his return, as confirmed by head coach Billy Donovan.
A critical moment unfolded when the score was tied at 42 midway through the second quarter. The Celtics began to find their rhythm on offense, wrapping up the half with a 61-54 lead after going on an 8-0 run that once expanded their advantage to 12 points. With Tatum taking control in the third, the Celtics were able to maintain their momentum against the Bulls, who had briefly closed the gap.
A noteworthy statistic from the game was Boston’s effective scoring in the paint, where they accumulated 62 points, despite leading the NBA with an average of 51.3 attempted three-pointers per game. The Celtics also dominated the boards, registering 58 rebounds and converting 25 second-chance points.
Looking ahead, the Celtics are set to face Orlando on Monday night, while the Bulls will host the Milwaukee Bucks.
