Boston finally returned to action at TD Garden Thursday, 19th of December as the team headed into only their 3rd game in 2 weeks due to the NBA Cup scheduling. The Celtics have won 12 out of it’s last 14 games and come into the final stretch of 2024 with the second-best record in the league, behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers. Prior to tip-off, Jayson Tatum received his NBA player of the month trophy from Wyc Grousbeck, his fifth all-time, to add to his well-deserved and growing trophy display.
The opening portion was a fast-paced affair as both teams looked to push the ball and get quick shots off. Unfortunately for the fans in attendance, both teams were quite rusty as Boston opened up the game going just 2-10 from the field. It took the Celtics until the sixth minute to finally scored there first three-pointer as Jayson Tatum hit on his second attempt. Jaylen Brown and Derrick White were the recipients of offensive fouls called on the Bulls for a Zach LaVine charge and moving screen respectively. Payton Pritchard continues to shine off the bench for Boston as he hit on his first touch and shot attempt, a deep three-pointer.
Boston’s poor shooting of 34 percent in the first quarter was matched by Chicago 37 percent as both teams STRUGGLED to start the game. The quarter would end with Boston slightly ahead 25-21, as both teams combined to go 6 for 26 from three. Joe Mazzulla surprised the fan base giving the early nod to Jaden Springer, in an attempt to match the speed and quickness of Coby White.
Payton Pritchard was hustling hard to start the second quarter with a pair of loose ball gets, highlighted by diving onto the parquet in-between two Bulls players. Al Horford was back to his best as the big man registered his second blocked shot of the game with a chase down play on Coby White.
With the Celtics up 5 points midway through the second quarter, Patrick Williams was a bright spot for Chicago pacing the Bulls with 3 made three-pointers. Not to be outdone, Nikola Vucevic also chimed in, hitting his first three, who has been a decent long-range shooter this season with an impressive 47.5 percent on the year.
With Josh Giddey out for Chicago, the Bulls style of play looked unchanged as they still looked to push the pace of the ball and kick it out to perimeter shooters. The Bulls would actually hit more contested threes than uncontested in the second quarter, as the road team roared back to life to take back the lead momentarily.
Boston’s offensive output certainly stagnated in the second quarter, and it was left to Kristaps Porzingis working in the painted area, the Latvian big man got 8 consecutive points for Boston in a late 2nd quarter stretch. The Celtics and Bulls lead the league in three-point makes at 494 and 446 apiece, and it was Chicago who was the better in the first half, finishing 9-24, compared to Boston’s 6-23. Jayson Tatum’s driving layup, his 17th point of the game propelled Boston to a 57-54 lead at the half.
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Jrue Holiday scored Boston’s first points in the second half, with a sweet fade away two on the low block. Jayson Tatum then hit his third three of the game as the net sound ripped through the arena. A failed challenge from Joe Mazzulla led to a pair of Coby white free-throws as Chicago got it back to within two points. Derrick White playing defense against Zac LaVine was one of the more entertaining match-ups throughout the game. LaVine’s hot shooting over various Celtics defenders was stymied by Derrick White, whose length challenged a LaVine three-point attempt with his second block in the third quarter.
Boston’s up and down shooting was on full display in the third quarter with a painful two and a half minute scoreless stretch as Chicago kept pace with the World Champs as scores were tied 80-80. A pair of Celtics triples from Payton Pritchard and Jayson Tatum saw Boston do enough to lead after three quarter’s, 86-82.
With leading scorer Jayson Tatum on the bench to start the 4th quarter, Boston started to let the game slip away. The Celtics came out super flat to start as the Bulls went on a 12-0 run and opened up a sizable 9-point lead.
In a bizarre turn of events, referee Justin Van Duyne, gave Joe Mazzulla and then Jaylen Brown technicals, as Zach Lavine capitalized on the mayhem hitting both technicals, resulting in a 104-96 Bulls lead. Boston then capitulated with poor fouls as Billy Donovan’s Chicago group would hold the lead they established early in the quarter to lead 117-108.
Boston next face these Bulls in Chicago Saturday night in what will certainly be yet another close game.
