The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls 134-99 on Monday, October 26, 2026, at TD Garden, with Payton Pritchard leading all scorers with 28 points. Boston made 21 three-pointers and outscored Chicago 39-21 in the third quarter to turn a 12-point halftime advantage into a comfortable home victory.
Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Celtics Establish a 12-Point Lead
Boston opened with a 33-21 first quarter, establishing an advantage that Chicago never erased at a quarter break. The Celtics paired a productive opening period with their first of two quarters holding the Bulls to 21 points.
Second Quarter: Bulls Keep Pace
Chicago improved its scoring output to 33 points in the second quarter, but Boston matched that total. The teams went into halftime with the Celtics ahead 66-54, leaving the Bulls with the same 12-point deficit they faced after the opening period.
Third Quarter: Boston Pulls Away
The decisive separation came after halftime. Boston outscored Chicago 39-21 in the third, its highest-scoring quarter of the night. That 18-point advantage extended the Celtics’ lead to 105-75 entering the fourth and left Chicago facing a substantial deficit.
Fourth Quarter: Celtics Complete the Win
Boston finished with a 29-24 fourth quarter to secure the 134-99 result. The Celtics won three quarters and tied the other, outscoring the Bulls 68-45 across the second half.
Key Performers
- Payton Pritchard, Celtics: Led all scorers with 28 points, delivering the game’s top individual scoring performance.
- Jayson Tatum, Celtics: Led Boston with seven rebounds and six assists, contributing in both rebounding and playmaking.
- Norman Powell, Bulls: Paced Chicago with 20 points and added four steals.
- Leonard Miller, Bulls: Collected a team-high nine rebounds, the highest individual total listed among either team’s rebounding leaders.
- Josh Giddey, Bulls: Led Chicago with four assists.
NerdSports Stat: Boston and Chicago each attempted 44 three-pointers, but the Celtics made nine more. That 27-point difference from beyond the arc accounted for 77.1% of Boston’s 35-point winning margin.
Game Analysis: Three-Point Efficiency Separates Boston
Equal three-point volume produced very different results. Boston went 21-for-44 from long range, shooting 47.7%, while Chicago finished 12-for-44 at 27.3%. The Celtics also held an overall shooting advantage, making 46 of 93 field-goal attempts for 49.5%, compared with the Bulls’ 33-for-84 performance at 39.3%.
Boston’s advantages extended beyond shooting. The Celtics outrebounded Chicago 54-40 and recorded 26 assists to the Bulls’ 20. Those totals complemented a scoring performance that reached at least 29 points in every quarter.
The free-throw line offered no scoring separation: both teams made 21. Boston needed 29 attempts to reach that total, while Chicago took 31. With free-throw scoring level, the Celtics’ superior field-goal production provided the difference.
The third quarter was the clearest turning point. Chicago had matched Boston’s scoring in the second period, but the Celtics increased their lead from 12 to 30 immediately after halftime. That stretch established control well before the final quarter.
Closing Context: Celtics Improve to 2-1
Boston improved to 2-1 overall and 2-0 at home, while Chicago fell to 1-3 overall and 1-2 on the road. The Celtics next host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, October 27, at 4:30 p.m. PDT, completing a back-to-back. The Bulls return to action against the New York Knicks on Wednesday, October 28, at 5 p.m. PDT, looking to improve their early-season record.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls 134-99 on October 26, 2026.
Payton Pritchard scored 28 points. His individual shooting percentage was not included in the supplied game statistics.
After the win, the Boston Celtics sit at 2-1 in the Eastern Conference.
Payton Pritchard was the standout performer with a game-high 28 points in Boston’s 134-99 win.
