Bulls 117-108 Celtics (December 19, 2024) Game Summary

BOSTON — — Zach LaVine scored a season-high 36 points and the Chicago Bulls used a fourth-quarter storm to hold off the Boston Celtics 117-108 on Thursday night in the opener of a home-and-home set.

The teams meet again in Chicago on Saturday night.

Ayo Dosunmu added 17 points and Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and 14 rebounds to help Chicago win its season-best third straight.

Chicago outscored Boston 35-22 in the fourth quarter and made 19 3-pointers for the game.

Jayson Tatum had 31 points to lead Boston, which lost for just the fourth time at home this season. Kristaps Porzingis added 20 points and eight rebounds.

Chicago’s big fourth quarter included technical fouls on coach Joe Mazzulla, Jaylen Brown and Tatum that kept Boston scrambling for the rest of the game.

Mazzulla’s frustrations continued after the game when he had to be restrained by two assistant coaches from confronting the referees.

Takeaways

Bulls: One of Chicago’s best efforts this season came without Josh Giddey, who missed his first game of the season with a sprained ankle.

Celtics: A frustrating night for Boston, who got rattled and forced some 3s late.

Key moment

Chicago opened the final period with a 17-4 run to take a 99-90 lead. Boston scored six straight before back-to-back technical fouls were called on Mazzulla and Brown after both protested a no-foul call on Brown. LaVine connected on both subsequent free throws and then hit a 31-footer to put Chicago back in front 104-96. Later in the period, Tatum also picked up a technical that helped extend the Bulls’ lead to 10.

Key state

The Celtics made 14 3-pointers to end the Bulls’ three-game streak of holding opponents under 10.

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