Simons and Pritchard Power Celtics to Commanding Win Over Bulls

Key Takeaways:

• Anfernee Simons recorded 27 points as Boston secured a 115-101 home victory over Chicago
• Boston limited Chicago to just 33 first-half points, the lowest they have allowed in an opening half this season
• Chicago, missing Josh Giddey through injury, suffered their second consecutive defeat despite 26 points from Matas Buzelis

Match Analysis

Anfernee Simons led the Boston Celtics with 27 points, supported by Payton Pritchard who contributed 21, as the hosts claimed a 115-101 win against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden. Boston established firm control in the opening half, conceding just 33 points – the fewest they have allowed before the interval all season – and won their fourth match in succession, marking eight victories in their last nine outings.

Neemias Queta provided a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, further asserting the Celtics’ dominance in the paint. Jaylen Brown, coming off a game in which he equalled his career-best 50 points against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, was held to 14 points on 6-of-24 shooting.

First home dub of 2026 ☘️#DifferentHere pic.twitter.com/DYxeSuDWDr

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 6, 2026

First Half Domination

Boston wasted little time in establishing their advantage, pulling 21 points clear by halftime. The Celtics led by 17 at the conclusion of the first quarter, and despite shooting at just 32.7% late in the second, increased their margin to 49-27 following Brown’s short shot in the lane. Payton Pritchard closed the half with a fadeaway three-pointer at the buzzer, leaving the score at 54-33.

The Bulls, who sank only 3 out of their opening 23 attempts from three-point range, appeared to be heading towards a franchise-low for points in a half (currently 23, registered on April 10, 1999, against Miami), before Jevon Carter’s late pair of threes eased Chicago past that ignominious mark. Boston, however, did not fare much better from long range, connecting on 5 of their first 19 three-point attempts.

Bulls’ Offensive Struggles and Late Rally

Chicago were facing further challenges with leading scorer Josh Giddey unavailable due to a hamstring issue. Matas Buzelis topped the scoresheet for the Bulls with 26 points, but the team as a whole was unable to recover from the early deficit. Although the Bulls mounted a mild resurgence in the closing five minutes, narrowing the deficit to 106-96 with a Nikola Vucevic three-pointer with 3:34 remaining, they did not reach 100 points until just over a minute before the final buzzer.

The result marked a second consecutive defeat for Chicago, having lost to Charlotte at home on Saturday.

What’s Next

The Bulls travel to face Detroit on Wednesday, while the Celtics will continue their homestand, playing host to Denver in the second game of a four-game stretch at TD Garden.