Simons scores 27 points, Pritchard adds 21 as Celtics cruise past Bulls
115-101
[January 06, 2026]
By KEN POWTAK
BOSTON (AP) — Anfernee Simons scored 27 points, Payton
Pritchard had 21 and the Boston Celtics held the Chicago Bulls to 33
points in the opening half of a 115-101 victory on Monday night.
Neemias Queta added 13 points and 13 rebounds for Boston, which won its
fourth straight game and for the eighth time in nine games. |
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) looks to shoot against Chicago
Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) during the first half of an NBA
basketball game, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles
Krupa) |
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Jaylen Brown was held to 14 points on 6-of-24 shooting, one game
after tying his career-high with 50 points in a victory at the
Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.
Matas Buzelis scored 26 to lead the Bulls, who were nearly held
under 100 points in their second straight loss after falling at
home against Charlotte on Saturday.
The Celtics led by 21 points at halftime and weren’t threatened
by the cold-shooting Bulls until a modest charge in the closing
five minutes. Chicago was missing leading leading scorer, Josh
Giddey, (hamstring).
The Bulls cut it to 106-96 on Nikola Vucevic’s 3-pointer with
3:34 to play. Chicago didn’t reach the 100-point mark until just
over a minute left.
Boston led by 17 at the end of one quarter and despite shooting
only 32.7% late in the second quarter pushed its advantage to
49-27 on Brown’s short jumper in the lane.
Pritchard hit a fadeaway 3 at the buzzer, making it 54-33 at
halftime.
The Bulls were threatening a team-record low points for a half
(23, set against Miami on April 10, 1999) before Jevon Carter
hit a pair of late 3s. Chicago missed 20 of its first 23
attempts from beyond the arc. Boston wasn’t much better, making
only 5 of its first 19.
It was the fewest points the Celtics had allowed in a first half
this season.
Up next
Bulls: At Detroit on Wednesday.
Celtics: Host Denver on Wednesday in the second of a four-game
homestand.
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