After losing by 35 points on Monday, they did it again on Friday, turning the ball over 16 times in a 125-111 loss to the Boston Celtics.
Payton Pritchard led the charge with 30 points, hitting 9 of 17 shots. He scored 20 of those points in the first half alone, setting a tone that the Bulls could never shake. The Celtics pulled away to a 32-point lead with just under two minutes left in the first half, Chicago began to close the gap in the third quarter, according to CelticsBlog.
A Paint Dominance That Broke Chicago
Boston didn’t just win; they controlled the interior. The team scored 56 points in the paint, a number that highlights their physical dominance over the Bulls. Per the Associated Press, the Celtics converted 21 of their points directly off those 16 turnovers.
Jayson Tatum added 26 points in 34 minutes, while Paul George contributed 18 points and eight assists. The starters did their damage early. Chicago shot just 38 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range, unable to find a rhythm against a defense that forced mistakes.
The Turnover Cycle Continues
Chicago has now lost four straight games, and the ball handling is the root cause. On Monday, they turned the ball over 25 times, leading to 39 Celtics points. On Friday, they reduced that number to 16, but the result was the same: Boston scored 21 points off those turnovers.
Caleb Wilson was the bright spot for Chicago with 23 points. Norman Powell finished with 16, and Matas Buzelis added 14. Despite these efforts, the team could not stop Boston’s attack. The Celtics have now won four games in a row as NBA Cup group play continues.
What Comes Next for Both Teams
In Eastern Conference Group C, the Celtics and Bulls face each other, with point differential serving as the tiebreaker. Boston entered Friday with a +14 differential, while the Washington Wizards held +16. Every point matters now that the group play has begun. The Wizards and Celtics are tied for the lead with a 1-0 record.
Looking ahead, the Bulls travel to Philadelphia on Monday. The Celtics head to Orlando on Sunday.
Pritchard’s performance against the Bulls on Oct. 26 was also strong, as he scored 28 points in just 22 minutes. That history suggests he has a specific knack for this matchup. The Celtics and Wizards are tied at the top of their group.
