BOSTON — Payton Pritchard scored 26 points and the Boston Celtics rolled past the Chicago Bulls 124-105 on Wednesday night in the final game for both teams before the All-Star break.
Jaylen Brown added 24 points. Former Bull Nikola Vučević finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Celtics, who have won six of their last seven games.
The Celtics carried a 28-point into halftime, taking advantage of a Bulls team that was missing several top contributors. The Celtics’ lead grew to as high as 33 in the second half.
Rob Dillingham had 16 points and seven assists to pace the Bulls (24-31), who have lost six straight and nine of 10. Matas Buzelis added 15 points and eight rebounds.
Vučević and the Bulls’ Anfernee Simons played against their former teams for the first time since being swapped in a trade-deadline deal last week.
It was Vučević’s second double-double in three games with the Celtics. Simons finished with seven points. It marked his first time being under 15 in his four starts for the Bulls.
The Bulls played without Isaac Okoro (knee), who joined what was already a lengthy injury list. Josh Giddey has been out since Jan. 28 when he aggravated a hamstring injury. Tre Jones also has been dealing with a hamstring issue that has kept him sidelined since Jan. 22.
Up next
Bulls: vs. Toronto Raptors on Feb. 19.
Celtics: At Golden State Warriors on Feb. 19.