Payton Pritchard scored 26 points and Jaylen Brown added 24 as the Boston Celtics cruised past the Chicago Bulls 124-105 on Wednesday night in the final game before the All-Star break for both teams.
Boston seized control early, building a 28-point halftime lead against a short-handed Chicago squad. The advantage ballooned to as many as 33 in the second half as the Celtics won for the sixth time in their last seven games.
Nikola Vucevic recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds, notching his second double-double in three games since being acquired at the trade deadline. Vucevic faced his former team for the first time since last week’s deal that sent him to Boston in exchange for Anfernee Simons.
Simons, now with Chicago, finished with seven points, snapping a streak of four straight starts with at least 15 points.
Rob Dillingham led the Bulls with 16 points and seven assists, while Matas Buzelis added 15 points and eight rebounds. Chicago has dropped six consecutive games and continues to battle injuries. Isaac Okoro (knee) was sidelined, while Josh Giddey and Tre Jones remain out with hamstring issues.
Up next:
The Bulls host Toronto on Feb. 19, and the Celtics visit Golden State on Feb. 19.
