NBA: Bulls cruise past Celtics, fight back from early deficit
DeMar DeRozan #11 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the first half at United Center on October 24, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Michael Reaves/Getty Images/AFP
DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points, Ayo Dosunmu added 22 and Nikola Vucevic notched 18 points and 23 rebounds to boost the host Chicago Bulls to a 120-102 victory against the Boston Celtics on Monday night.
Chicago snapped a two-game skid while stopping Boston’s season-opening three-game winning streak. After trailing by as many as 19 points in the opening quarter, the Bulls led by 23 down the stretch.
The Bulls had a 64-48 rebounding edge and shot 48.3 percent from the field compared to 37 percent for the Celtics.
Jayson Tatum scored a game-high 26 points for the Celtics, who also had double-figure scoring efforts from Jaylen Brown (21 points), Malcolm Brogdon (12) and Marcus Smart (11).
Tatum paced Boston with eight rebounds, while Smart dished six assists.
Zach LaVine added 19 points for the Bulls. Andre Drummond snagged 12 boards.
Boston rolled to a 12-0 run to open the game, with Chicago not registering its first points until LaVine swished a pair of free throws at the 8:35 mark.
What a sequence! 😤@NBCSChicago | #BullsNation pic.twitter.com/yhW90fAnI5
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 25, 2022
The Celtics led by as many as 19 points in the first quarter behind 60.9 percent shooting — including an 8-for-11 effort from deep. Tatum (15 points) and Brown (10) reached double-figure scoring in the first 12 minutes.
But Chicago didn’t wilt. The Bulls clawed back over the next 7:44, transforming their largest deficit into a lead on a Goran Dragic layup with 7:48 to go before halftime. Clicking behind steady shooting and defense, Chicago swelled the advantage to 16 before taking a 65-54 lead into the break.
Chicago shot 50 percent in the first half compared to 40.8 percent for Boston.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was ejected late in the third quarter after being assessed two technical fouls. Grant Williams was ejected early in the fourth after making contact with an official following a foul call.
Mazzulla blamed his ejection on a loss of composure.
“It’s unfortunate,” he told reporters. “We have to be composed in all situations.
“Regardless of what happens, we have to be better, more composed, and it starts with me.”
Mazzulla was also dismayed by the defensive shortcomings that allowed Chicago to come back after the Celtics’ fast start.
“I think we just let go of the rope defensively,” Mazzulla said.
“When you get off to a great start like that you have to continue to play, especially on the road.”
Chicago snapped a two-game losing streak in the all-time series. The Bulls have won four of the past six meetings with Boston. With reports from Agence France-Presse
