The Boston Celtics scored 44 points in the first quarter alone, a number that makes the final score look almost boring. Chicago surrendered that total during the NBA Cup opener on Friday, Oct. 30, 2026, at TD Garden. This early explosion left the Bulls with a massive hole to fill before the game even hit halftime. The Celtics won 125-111, but the real story was the sheer speed of the first twelve minutes.
According to The Boston Globe, Boston began the match by making an unbelievable 21 of 24 two-point shots. That level of efficiency on easy shots is rare, even for a team with this much talent. The Bulls led 9-6 early on, but the Celtics ripped off a 21-7 run in just over four minutes. By the time the quarter ended, Chicago was already down by 19 points and trying to stop the bleeding.
Pritchard Steps Up
Payton Pritchard was the engine that kept the offense moving when the starters needed rest. The victory saw him tally 30 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. Coach Joe Mazzulla embraced him during a break, and Pritchard said, “I think the hug was for me doing that and him being thankful [I’m] doing it.” The guard secured two steals and played steady defense while converting a putback after an offensive rebound.
To enhance his play, Pritchard noted he studies film regarding his boxing out and rebounding. Aiming to be a defensive nuisance, he seeks to generate trouble for foes by drawing illegal screens. Mazzulla noted, “I think in tonight’s game, you saw the absolute best version of him.” The coach added that Pritchard stepping up helps the team take it to a different level.
Bench Depth Wins Games
The Celtics bench players rose in anticipation before Pritchard’s three-pointer even slid through the net. Center Neemias Queta said, “He’s a big part of what we’re trying to do, and once he gets it going and hits those tough threes, it’s a really hard guy to stop.” Boston did not need their stars to carry the load every single minute. Relying on bench rotations, they secured a convincing defeat for the Bulls.
While Jayson Tatum offered the pedestrian brilliance of a longtime star, the team thrived just as consistently with others on the floor. Tatum finished with 26 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. As a collective, The Celtics achieved a 51.2 percent field goal percentage. This performance showed that the team can win even when the starters sit down for long stretches.
Chicago Struggles to Stop the Bleeding
Rookie Caleb Wilson tried to spark a comeback for the Bulls with a team-high 23 points. He went 6-for-11 from three-point range and showed flashes of defensive acumen by blocking Tatum at the rim. However, Wilson admitted, “We’re the Chicago Bulls, and I feel like it’s unacceptable to be losing like we are and laying down that early in the game.” The Bulls arrived in Boston with the second-worst defensive rating in the league at 121.7.
Chicago allowed 58 points in the paint and 21 points off turnovers. These numbers make it nearly impossible to win against a team that moves the ball so well. Despite the Bulls grabbing 20 offensive rebounds for 25 second-chance points, their effort proved insufficient. Coach Tiago Splitter threw rookies into the game to focus on development after the damage was already halfway done.
