NewsCeltics Rout Bulls 134–99 as Payton Pritchard Hits Seven 3-Pointers
The Boston Celtics defeated the Chicago Bulls 134–99 at TD Garden on October 26, with Payton Pritchard's seven made three-pointers helping turn a competitive first half into a rout.
Representative editorial photograph, not the reported event or teams. Photo: Engin Akyurt / Pexels (Pexels free-use license).
Celtics vs. Bulls final score: how the lead grew
BOSTON, Oct. 26, 2026 — The Celtics took a 33–21 lead after one quarter and were ahead 66–54 at halftime. Chicago was still within reach entering the third, but Boston's offense accelerated and its defense tightened. The Celtics outscored the Bulls 39–21 in the third period to lead 105–75, then finished a 134–99 victory.
The NBA's official matchup page identifies the October 26 game at TD Garden. Boston's postgame coverage and the published period scores confirm the final margin.
Payton Pritchard's three-point shooting changed the game
Pritchard finished with 28 points and seven three-pointers, with his biggest scoring burst coming in the third quarter. Sam Hauser also connected from distance during Boston's decisive stretch. Those shots forced Chicago to defend farther from the basket and helped turn a 12-point halftime gap into a comfortable lead.
Seven made threes are more than a box-score footnote in a blowout: they help explain how Boston repeatedly punished defensive rotations. The Celtics did not need a close fourth-quarter finish because the third-quarter separation was already substantial.
Jayson Tatum contributed without heavy minutes
Jayson Tatum added 23 points, and Boston's rotation allowed the starters to avoid unusually heavy minutes. The postgame account says no Celtic played more than 27 minutes. That matters in an early-season schedule where the next game arrives quickly and managing workload is part of the competitive picture.
Boston's bench also contributed, including a fourth-quarter three-pointer by rookie Chris Cenac Jr. The scoring was spread widely enough that the game was not a two-player effort, even though Tatum and Pritchard supplied the headline numbers.
What Chicago must address after the defeat
The Bulls scored 54 in the first half but only 45 after the break. Boston's pressure and shotmaking produced a lopsided second half, and Chicago could not find a sustained counter-run. The score does not establish a season-long trend, but the size of the third-quarter swing makes defensive consistency an immediate question.
Boston moved to 2–1 and Chicago to 1–3, according to the posted final-game record. The Celtics were scheduled to host Brooklyn on Tuesday, October 27; readers should consult the NBA schedule for current tipoff information.
Sources and verification
This independently written report uses the official NBA game listing, CelticsBlog's game recap and period-by-period score record. The licensed photograph is representative and does not show either NBA team.
Editorial note: Information reflects verified sources available late October 26, 2026 (U.S. Eastern Time). See contact for corrections.