Payton Pritchard set the tone and the Celtics never let up.
Boston rolled past the Bulls 134-99, and Pritchard was right at the center of it, turning in the kind of night that can change the temperature of a rotation conversation. The Celtics got production all over the floor, but Pritchard’s big performance was the headliner in a game that quickly turned into a showcase for Boston’s depth.
The win also gave Joe Mazzulla another chance to sort through his lineups early in the season. Boston’s supporting cast did more than just fill minutes - it made an impact, and that included the continued growth of Hugo Gonzalez. The young wings also came into focus, with Jordan Walsh part of the discussion as the Celtics kept working through how those pieces fit.
Pritchard’s postgame stood out as part of the larger picture, but the night wasn’t only about one hot hand. The Celtics’ rotation and the way Mazzulla is handling it were a major part of the conversation after the final buzzer, especially with Boston getting strong contributions throughout the lineup.
There was also no escaping the other storyline hovering over the Celtics: Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Brown answered Tatum’s comments, and the back-and-forth kept rolling. Brian Scalabrine added fuel with claims about Brown’s trade situation, only for Brown’s representation to push back. That led to a deeper debate about what happened behind the scenes, whether Brown felt underappreciated in Boston, and how much of the tension was really there.
The discussion also touched on whether Brown wanted Milwaukee, and eventually on a bigger question that hangs over all of this: how Celtics fans might greet him if and when he comes back to TD Garden. The idea of boos was part of the conversation, along with the possibility that the reaction could say as much about the relationship as the trade chatter did.
Before all that, the Celtics’ on-court work still gave plenty to chew on. Boston’s blowout of Chicago, Pritchard’s breakout night, Tatum’s turnovers and the state of the young wings all played into a game that looked one-sided long before the final horn.
In Other News...
Will Borgen Is Giving The Bruins Something They Desperately Needed
When the Bruins sent backup goalie Joonas Korpisalo to the Rangers for Will Borgen on July 1, it looked like the kind of trade that could quietly reshape the back end more than the headlines suggested. Boston needed sturdier blue-line play, and with Charlie McAvoy out, the margin for error on defense has been thinner than usual. Borgen has stepped into that gap quickly, giving the Bruins the steadier presence they were looking for in the early part of the season.
Through his first 12 games in Boston, Borgen has made a noticeable impact in ways that do not always jump out on a box score. He has fit in cleanly, helped calm things down in the defensive zone and earned the trust of Marco Sturm, who has liked what he has seen from the veteran defensemans game. For a Bruins team trying to keep its structure intact, that kind of addition matters. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins May Be Rediscovering An Identity Fans Have Missed
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It also helps that Jeannot has settled into a line with Mark Kastelic and Matt Poitras, giving the Bruins a look that feels built for forechecking, physicality and momentum-shifting shifts. If Boston is going to keep leaning into that identity, nights like this suggest Jeannot could be right in the middle of it, even if the full payoff of that edge is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
James Hagens Is Giving Bruins Fans A Reason To Dream Early
James Hagens has given Bruins fans an early glimpse of why the organization was so eager to bring him along, and the 19-year-old forward has already carved out a meaningful role in the seasons opening stretch. Through 12 games, the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft has settled in on the third line with Casey Mittlestadt and Elias Lindholm, offering a mix of pace, touch and poise that has fit surprisingly quickly into Bostons forward group.
What has stood out most is how comfortable Hagens already looks in tight spaces near the crease, where his instincts seem to show up when the Bruins need a play made. David Pastrnak has noticed, too, praising Hagens smart work around the net and the knack for finding important goals, which is the kind of early endorsement that usually gets a fan base dreaming about how much more there might still be to come. [Read more 🡒]