Celtics Rout Bulls 134-99 Behind Strong Performances

The Boston Celtics secured a dominant 134-99 victory against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden, dealing the visitors a heavy 35-point loss in their latest regular-season matchup. The game highlighted stark differences between the two Eastern Conference teams, leaving Chicago with a 1-3 start to the season under head coach Tiago Splitter.

Chicago struggled right out of the gate, falling behind 33-21 at the end of the first quarter. The team continued its early-season shooting woes, hitting just 2-10 from behind the arc to start the game and finishing with a 27 percent conversion rate on 44 three-point attempts. In contrast, the Celtics shot 48 percent from long distance on 44 attempts.

Despite the early deficit, the Bulls showed brief glimpses of life in the first half. Norman Powell led the team with 13 points, shooting efficiently from both the field and beyond the arc by making three of five three-point attempts. Josh Giddey added 11 points on nearly 67 percent shooting, while rookie Caleb Wilson contributed 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal before halftime. Coming off the bench, Leonard Miller chipped in with a near double-double performance, registering 7 points and 8 rebounds by the break.

However, any hopes of a Chicago comeback were completely dismantled in the third quarter. The Celtics unleashed an offensive onslaught led by Paul George and Payton Pritchard. While George added 10 points in the frame, Pritchard exploded for 19 points by shooting a flawless 5-for-5 from three-point range, nearly matching the entire scoring output of the Bulls in that quarter alone.

The lopsided nature of the game was reflected across nearly every major statistical category. Boston capitalized heavily on Chicago's 24 turnovers, turning them into 39 points compared to just 17 points off turnovers for the Bulls. The Celtics also dominated the paint with 46 points to Chicago's 30, controlled the fast break with 17 points to 8, and outrebounded the visitors 65 to 53.

Boston's bench outscored Chicago's reserves by a staggering 79 to 33, underscoring the depth advantage held by the home side. Jayson Tatum anchored the Celtics throughout the contest, building on a strong first half where he already recorded 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Payton Pritchard's lethal shooting ensured the fourth quarter devolved into garbage time.

With this defeat, Splitter and the coaching staff face mounting pressure to find answers as the schedule intensifies. The Bulls will look to regroup when they return home to host the New York Knicks, followed quickly by a rematch against these same Celtics in upcoming NBA Cup action.