On a night filled with emotion and history at the United Center, the Chicago Bulls delivered a finish worthy of the occasion. As the franchise honored Derrick Rose by raising his iconic No. 1 jersey to the rafters, the current squad capped the evening with a dramatic 114-111 win over the Boston Celtics, sealed by a last-second corner three from Kevin Huerter.
It was a fitting end to a game that felt like a celebration of Bulls basketball - past and present. And while Rose’s legacy took center stage pregame, it was Chicago’s sharpshooting that stole the spotlight late.
The Bulls connected on 21 of their 45 attempts from deep, good for nearly 47%, and none was bigger than Huerter’s game-winner. In a league where spacing and shooting can decide games in a blink, Chicago executed when it mattered most.
For Boston, it was the second game of a back-to-back - and it showed. Less than 24 hours after grinding out a double-overtime win in Brooklyn, the Celtics looked a step slow on offense and couldn’t find their rhythm from beyond the arc. They launched 47 threes but hit just 15, a tough percentage on a night when their legs clearly weren’t at full strength.
Jaylen Brown continued his strong individual play, dropping 33 points on 14-of-28 shooting, while adding eight rebounds and five assists. He was aggressive, hunting mismatches and carrying much of the offensive load. Anfernee Simons added 21, building on his hot shooting from the last meeting between these teams - a game in early January where Boston dominated Chicago 115-101 behind Simons’ 8-of-14 shooting from deep.
But this time, the Bulls flipped the script. Seven Chicago players finished in double figures, a testament to their balanced attack and willingness to share the ball. The Celtics' defense, which had held strong in recent games, couldn’t contain the Bulls’ perimeter shooting or match their energy in key stretches.
Derrick White, who’s been in a bit of a shooting funk, struggled again - finishing 5-of-18 from the field. His ability to bounce back will be something to watch as the Celtics head into a critical stretch of the season.
One of the more intriguing developments came at the center position. Rookie forward-center Williams got the starting nod over Neemias Queta.
While he didn’t log heavy minutes, Williams made the most of his 10 on the floor, continuing to show flashes of why the coaching staff values his growth. Joe Mazzulla has shown a willingness to reward young players who impact the game, and Williams is making a strong case for more consistent minutes, even as much of his development continues in Maine.
Despite the loss, Boston still boasts the league’s best record in back-to-backs since Mazzulla took over the head coaching role, sitting at 35-13. But this one slipped away late, and it underscores a trend that’s become a bit concerning: the Celtics are now 10-14 in clutch games - contests decided by five points or fewer in the final five minutes. For a team with championship aspirations, that’s a stat that’ll need to swing in their favor down the stretch.
The Celtics now head back to TD Garden for a pivotal homestand - seven of their next nine games will be in Boston, with the trade deadline looming on February 5 and All-Star Weekend not far behind. They’ll look to regroup quickly with the Portland Trail Blazers coming to town Monday evening.
The loss stings, especially on a night when Boston had a chance to build momentum. But with a deep roster and time to recalibrate, this stretch at home could be exactly what they need to reset - and reassert themselves as one of the league’s elite.