Everything you need to know about the Celtics' win over the Bulls, with BSJ insight and analysis.
IN A NUTSHELL
Neither team shot well in the first quarter, but Boston scored off turnovers and built a 17-point lead. The lead got to 23 despite the gross basketball continuing into halftime. Payton Pritchard and Anfernee Simons both got hot to carry the third, and Simons kept his roll going to keep the lead at a manageable level the rest of the way despite a late Bulls run.
HEADLINES
- Winning ugly: They don’t pay the guys to make ‘em pretty, they just pay them to win. The Celtics couldn't hit a thing for most of the night, they looked disjointed, and Jaylen Brown had a stinker, but the Bulls were somehow worse. Boston relied on defense and rebounding to get the job done until the offense came around.
- Simons goes off: He finished the night with 27 points, all in the second half. He went on a heater to end all heaters, shooting 8-11 from 3, which helped build a huge lead and hold off the Bulls when they got frisky late in the game.
- Moving up in the East: The Pistons beat the Knicks, so the Celtics have now moved a half game ahead of New York into the second seed. I’ll throw in my standard caveat of it not being late enough in the season to care TOO much, but also any time spend in second is kind of incredible considering the expectations.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics whipped off a 25-5 run in the first quarter to build a 17-point lead. The Bulls made a late run, but they never got the lead below double digits again.
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