The Celtics made sure to head into the All-Star break on a high note, putting together a dominant 124-105 win over the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night at TD Garden. It was the kind of bounce-back performance Boston needed after a rough outing against the Knicks, and it showcased just how dangerous this team can be when firing on all cylinders.
Let’s start with the new guy. Nikola Vucevic, in just his second appearance with the Celtics, looked far more settled - and it showed.
The veteran big man notched a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double against his former squad, showing off the kind of floor-spacing and interior presence that Boston hoped to unlock when they dealt for him at the trade deadline. He was efficient (7-for-12 from the field, 4-for-5 from three), active on defense (two blocks, one steal), and most importantly, in rhythm with his new teammates.
“He looked much more comfortable,” head coach Joe Mazzulla said postgame, noting that Vucevic’s first full practice on Tuesday paid immediate dividends. The Celtics outscored the Bulls by 26 points in Vucevic’s 26 minutes - a stark contrast to his debut against New York, where he struggled to find his footing.
But the night belonged to Payton Pritchard. Coming off the bench, the newly minted sixth man poured in a game-high 25 points to go with eight assists and five rebounds.
He was electric in the first half, hitting 7 of his 8 shots and orchestrating the offense with poise. Pritchard’s role has shifted since the Simons trade, but Wednesday’s performance was a reminder that he’s more than capable of leading the second unit - and doing it with style.
Jaylen Brown, who’s headed to his first All-Star Game as a starter, added 24 points, four rebounds and four assists on 9-of-20 shooting. He looked sharp early, knocking down back-to-back threes in the first quarter and slicing through the lane for a pair of strong finishes in the second. Brown’s been the tone-setter all season, and he didn’t let up in this one.
Jordan Walsh also made the most of his opportunity. The third-year wing hasn’t seen consistent minutes lately, but he made a serious impact in his 20 minutes off the bench: 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting, six boards, three assists, three steals, and a block. His energy was contagious, and his steal-and-dunk sequence on former Celtic Anfernee Simons brought the TD Garden crowd to its feet.
“If you look at the plays he made - the steal at halfcourt, the offensive rebounds - it’s about making an impact right away,” Mazzulla said. Walsh played a 12-minute stretch spanning the first and second quarters, during which Boston outscored Chicago by 25. That’s the kind of spark plug performance that can earn you more run down the stretch.
The Celtics were in control from the moment Mazzulla went to his bench in the first quarter. Down 18-17 at the time, Boston rolled out a fresh lineup featuring Vucevic, Pritchard, Ron Harper Jr., and Hugo Gonzalez - and the game flipped. Boston closed the first quarter with a nine-point lead, then blew it open in the second, stretching the margin to 29 before halftime.
By the break, the Celtics were shooting 58.3% from the field and 52.6% from deep. They were dominating the glass (27-13 advantage), moving the ball, and defending with purpose.
Chicago had no answers - and frankly, that’s been the story for the Bulls lately. Wednesday’s loss was their sixth straight and ninth in 10 games.
Only four players who suited up for Chicago in this one were on the roster the last time these teams met on Jan. 24.
Simons, who was part of the trade that brought Vucevic to Boston, had a quiet return to TD Garden, finishing with seven points on 3-of-9 shooting. The Bulls are clearly in rebuild mode, and it’s showing in the standings - they’ve slipped to 11th in the East.
Boston, on the other hand, continues to look like a team with serious postseason aspirations. They’ve now won five of their last six and 10 of their last 14, sitting at 35-19 heading into the break with the fourth-best record in the league behind Oklahoma City, Detroit, and San Antonio.
Mazzulla opted to shake up the starting five again, moving away from the double-big look and inserting Baylor Scheierman into the lineup in place of Luka Garza. It marked Scheierman’s eighth start of the season and his fourth in the last five games. He chipped in 10 points and five boards, and drew praise from Mazzulla for his defensive versatility.
“He’s guarded point guards, he’s guarded centers,” Mazzulla said. “He understands our system and can adjust mid-game. Offensively, he reads the game well in real time.”
Neemias Queta remained the starting center but left briefly in the first quarter with an ankle injury. He returned later, but Vucevic took on the bulk of the minutes in the middle - and made the most of them.
The Celtics now get a well-earned break. Brown will represent Boston in the All-Star Game on Sunday, while Ron Harper Jr. will participate in both the Rising Stars Challenge and the Shooting Stars competition. The rest of the roster will be off until Feb. 19, when the team kicks off a four-game West Coast swing in Golden State.
Boston won’t be back at TD Garden until Feb. 27, when they host the Brooklyn Nets to start a key homestand. By then, the spotlight could shift to Jayson Tatum, who’s been ramping up his rehab with the G League squad and may be nearing a return.
“We have a clear understanding of who we are,” Mazzulla said. “The challenge now is: can we maintain that - and take it to another level?”
If Wednesday night was any indication, the Celtics are ready to do just that.