Payton Pritchard scored a season-high 30 points off the bench, Jayson Tatum added 26 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and the Boston Celtics beat the visiting Chicago Bulls 125-111 on Friday in the NBA Cup Group C opener for both teams.
Paul George had 18 points, six rebounds and eight assists for Boston, which led by as many as 32 in the second quarter and won its fourth straight since opening the season with a road loss to the Detroit Pistons. Neemias Queta had 13 points and Mitchell Robinson chipped in 11.
Caleb Wilson led Chicago with 23 points, including six 3-pointers. Norman Powell scored 16 points, Matas Buzelis added 14, Josh Giddey had 13, Tre Jones 12 and Noa Essengue 10. Jalen Smith grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
The Bulls lost their fourth straight while shooting 37.6% from the field and 30% (15 of 50) from 3-point range.
The Celtics took command in the first quarter, outscoring the Bulls 44-25 in the frame. Chicago claimed a 9-6 lead before the Celtics used a 29-9 run to move ahead 35-18 with 2:48 left in the period.
After shooting 66.7% from the field in the first quarter, Boston remained hot in the second. Pritchard hit a 3-pointer with 6:40 left in the period to give the Celtics a 63-35 lead.
Boston led 78-49 at the half after shooting 63% from the field and 36.4% (8 of 22) from 3-point range. Pritchard scored 20 first-half points as Boston finished four shy of its franchise record of 82 points before halftime.
Chicago opened the third quarter on an 18-8 run to cut the deficit to 86-67 with 4:53 left in the period. Wilson made two of the Bulls’ four 3-pointers during the stretch.
Boston withstood the rally and held a 99-74 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
Tatum scored with 6:52 left, putting Boston ahead 111-88, before Chicago cut into the margin in the final minutes.
The contest marked the second matchup between the Celtics and Bulls this young season. Boston ran away with a 134-99 home win on Monday.
