Celtics' Bench Pulled Off Something Remarkable In Blowout Win Over Bulls originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Celtics had plenty to celebrate Monday night after dismantling the Chicago Bulls 134-99 at TD Garden. Payton Pritchard caught fire, Jayson Tatum delivered another productive performance and Boston made 21 three-pointers. But the most remarkable number from the victory wasn't the final score or even Pritchard's shooting.
It was 79. That's how many points Boston received from its bench, compared with just 33 from Chicago's reserves. Even more impressively, the Celtics' second unit outscored the Bulls' entire starting lineup, which combined for 66 points. That is an extraordinary advantage in a game that already finished with a 35-point margin.
Pritchard Turned The Third Quarter Into A Shooting Exhibition
Pritchard led the Celtics with 28 points while making seven of his 10 three-point attempts. He scored 19 points in the third quarter alone, connecting on all five of his attempts from beyond the arc during that period. Chicago had no answer as Boston transformed a competitive game into a runaway victory. The Celtics outscored the Bulls 39-21 in the quarter and entered the fourth with a commanding 105-75 lead.
PAYTON PRITCHARD WAS ON FIRE IN THE 3Q! 🔥 19 PTS (7-8 FGM) 🔥 5-FOR-5 FROM DEEP https://t.co/9XUwNyvWRk
— NBA (@NBA) October 27, 2026
The production wasn't limited to Pritchard. Hugo González contributed 13 points off the bench and Sam Hauser added 11. Boston's reserves repeatedly created scoring opportunities when the starters were resting, preventing Chicago from establishing any sustained momentum. Tatum still contributed 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but the Celtics didn't need him to dominate the entire evening.
A 35-Point Win Still Came With An Unusual Warning
The Celtics weren't perfect despite the lopsided result. Boston committed 25 turnovers, the same number as Chicago, an unusually high total for a team that still scored 134 points. The difference was what happened between those mistakes. Boston shot 21-for-44 from three-point range, won the rebounding battle 54-40 and repeatedly punished the Bulls with perimeter shooting.
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Boston improved to 2-1 and now has an immediate opportunity to build on the performance when the Brooklyn Nets visit TD Garden on Tuesday night. The next game will offer another test of the team's depth, particularly after such a convincing performance from the reserves. Monday's victory showed that the Celtics can overwhelm an opponent without asking Tatum to carry every possession. For a team developing its identity early in the season, that might be the most encouraging takeaway.