Celtics Fall to Bulls at the Buzzer, 114-111, Despite Jaylen Brown’s Heroics
On the second night of a back-to-back, in a building buzzing with energy on Derrick Rose’s jersey retirement night, the Boston Celtics found themselves on the wrong end of a heartbreaker. Kevin Huerter’s cold-blooded three with just 0.2 seconds left sealed a 114-111 win for the Chicago Bulls, ending a gritty Celtics effort that came up just short.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a case of Boston rolling over. Far from it.
The Celtics, without the benefit of fresh legs, fought tooth and nail for 48 minutes. Jaylen Brown, nursing a hamstring issue, suited up anyway and poured everything he had into this one.
He was relentless on both ends, attacking the rim, hitting timely shots, and setting the tone defensively. On a night when the Celtics needed leadership, Brown delivered.
But sometimes, even a gutsy performance isn’t enough when the other team catches fire from deep-and that’s exactly what the Bulls did.
Bulls Torch the Celtics from Beyond the Arc
The story of the night was Chicago’s three-point shooting. The Bulls hit shot after shot from long range, finishing with a barrage that ultimately proved too much for Boston to overcome. Huerter’s game-winner was just the final dagger in what had been a night of perimeter precision for Chicago.
Boston’s defense, usually one of the league’s most disciplined units, struggled to close out on shooters. Whether it was fatigue from the back-to-back or just poor rotations, the Celtics gave the Bulls too many clean looks-and the Bulls made them pay. The Celtics allowed 114 points, with a significant chunk coming from beyond the arc, and that’s not a recipe for success against a team that gets hot like Chicago did.
A Costly Miscue in the Final Moments
With the game tied in the closing seconds, Boston had a chance to get a stop and force overtime. Instead, a defensive breakdown left Huerter just enough daylight to rise and fire. The shot dropped, the crowd erupted, and the Celtics were left stunned.
It wasn’t just the final possession, though. Throughout the game, Boston had lapses-missed assignments, miscommunications, and untimely turnovers that kept the Bulls within striking distance. Those little mistakes add up, especially on the road, and especially when the opponent is shooting the lights out.
Brown’s Brilliance, but Help Needed
Jaylen Brown was the clear bright spot. He played with urgency and physicality, attacking mismatches and carrying the offensive load for stretches.
But the Celtics needed more from the supporting cast. Jayson Tatum had moments, but never fully found his rhythm.
Derrick White and Jrue Holiday had flashes, but couldn’t consistently slow down Chicago’s perimeter attack.
Sam Hauser, who’s been one of the league’s most efficient shooters this month, struggled to find his spots in this one. The Bulls clearly keyed in on him, limiting his touches and forcing him into tougher looks.
No Excuses from Boston
After the game, the Celtics didn’t lean on the back-to-back or the injury report as a crutch. This is a veteran group with championship aspirations, and they know nights like this come with the territory. The NBA schedule doesn’t offer much sympathy, and games like these are tests of depth, focus, and execution.
Boston’s locker room message was simple: no excuses. They had a chance to win, and they didn’t close it out.
Looking Ahead
This loss doesn’t derail the Celtics’ season by any means. They’re still one of the top teams in the East, and their body of work this season speaks for itself. But it does highlight a few areas that need tightening-especially defending the three-point line and executing in crunch time.
With the trade deadline approaching, the front office will have some decisions to make. Depth in the frontcourt and perimeter defense could be areas to watch, especially after a game like this where the Celtics were exposed in both.
Still, even in defeat, there’s value in seeing how a team responds. Brown’s performance was a reminder of his leadership and resilience. And for a team with championship goals, bouncing back from heartbreak is part of the journey.
The Celtics will regroup, rest up, and get back to work. Because in the NBA, there’s always another game-and another chance to prove you belong at the top.