Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Celtics Pick Up Where They Left Off, Stifle Bulls in Second Half
The Boston Celtics improved their NBA-leading record to 44-12, earning a 129-112 win over the Chicago Bulls in their first game after the All-Star break.
Save for roughly the final four minutes of the first frame and the second quarter, the visitors in Thursday night's matchup in the Windy City were sharp in their return to play.
They built a 16-point edge early, then picked up their focus, physicality, and activity on defense in the 12 minutes after halftime, limiting the hosts to 21 points in a period it put 37 on the board.
And with the Celtics not letting up in the final frame, newcomers Xavier Tillman and Jaden Springer were able to make their team debuts near the end of the game.
According to NBC Sports Boston's stats guru, Dick Lipe, they became the fifth team in NBA history with at least 20 threes, ten blocks, and ten steals. It's a feat they also accomplished against the Brooklyn Nets in 2020.
Derrick White's 28 points led all scorers in the victory. He knocked down 9/14 shots, including 5/10 from beyond the arc, dished out five assists, and swiped two steals.
He also had three blocks in the first quarter, tying his career high for the most in a period, matching his output in the first frame against the Golden State Warriors in this season's matchup in the Bay on Dec. 19.
After easing his way into the contest, entering intermission with five points, Jayson Tatum generated 25 points, buried 5/10 threes, grabbed a team-best seven rebounds, distributed five assists, and had three thefts. The five-time All-Star's increased aggression was at the center of getting Boston's offense back on track after halftime.
Jaylen Brown, the visitors' best player in the second quarter, put 14 points on the board, leading all participants on both sides and finished with 21. He also contributed five assists, five rebounds, a steal, and a block.
The C's also got 30 points from their second unit, including ten from Luke Kornet and nine from Payton Pritchard, who helped keep the Bulls at arm's length in the final frame.
Now for a deep dive into what stood out as Thursday's win unfolded.
The Celtics were sharp at the start of their return from the All-Star break, building a lead that grew as large as 16.
At the center of that was Derrick White, who registered 12 points in the opening period, making him the lone player on either side to score in double-figures in the first 12 minutes. He did so on 4/7 shooting, including drilling a pair of threes.
The former Colorado Buffalo also swatted Nikola Vucevic, first in transition, then when the Bulls' center attempted to go one-on-one against him. He also jumped a cross-court pass for a pick-six.
But then came a letdown that included a pair of turnovers and quality shots falling off the mark, including a clean look at a mid-range jumper for Jayson Tatum, quickly facing up off the catch.
As Boston went scoreless for a stretch that carried into the second quarter and lasted 4:30, an 8-0 run by Chicago narrowed the gap to 31-23 entering the second frame.
The bright spot for the visitors in the 12 minutes before halftime was Jaylen Brown heating up offensively. The three-time All-Star produced 14 points in the period, giving him 20 at intermission, matching Vucevic for the most in the matchup at the break.
The 2022 All-NBA Second Team selection was cooking from all three levels, burying 3/4 threes, knocking down contested fadeaway jumpers, and plowing his way to the rim.
But despite the Celtics 61.1 percent from the field, including 5/10 from beyond the arc, five turnovers, as many fouls, and a lack of resistance defensively, resulted in getting outscored 39-28 in the second quarter, entering the halftime down 62-59.
Met with minimal resistance, the hosts consistently got into the paint, manufacturing 16 points from there in the frame and 24 in the first half.
Boston got back on track in the third quarter, holding the Bulls to 0/5 with two turnovers when action resumed. That set the stage for a 10-0 burst, pulling ahead 69-62.
With the visitors playing more actively on defense and Jayson Tatum attacking downhill, including a post-up that drew Ayo Dosunmu, prompting him to kick the ball out to White for an open three, the Celtics expanded their run to 27-10, growing their advantage to 86-72.
The five-time All-Star generated 15 points in the third quarter. He was the only player to reach double figures. He also dished out three assists, matching Jrue Holiday for the most in the period. He was aggressive and consistently made the right play. That includes setting effective screens, which sometimes set him up to score.
Tatum's performance and the C's renewed focus on defense led to outpacing the hosts 37-21, taking a 96-83 edge into the final frame.
Boston limited Chicago to 37.5 percent shooting, including 2/7 (28.6 percent) from three-point range, and forced five turnovers, which the Celtics parlayed into nine points.
They kept their foot on the gas in the fourth quarter, getting a pair of threes from Payton Pritchard, including one off a terrific read by White, delivering a dime on a skip pass off the dribble, finding the former Oregon Duck in the far-side corner and putting the ball right in his shooting pocket.
There were also a pair of put-back dunks by Luke Kornet, as the second unit produced ten of the team's first 20 points. In a productive performance on Xavier Tillman's first night available for Boston, the seven-foot-two center registered ten points and grabbed four offensive rebounds.
With the visitors comfortably ahead, Tillman and Jaden Springer made their team debut late in the quarter. The former registered a block and a bucket as the Celtics applied the finishing touches on a 129-112 win in the Windy City.
The Celtics are now onto a Saturday night matchup against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. That game will tip off at 8:30 EST.
Further Reading
Jaylen Brown Praises All-Star Snub: 'Excelling His Game at a Rapid Pace'
Jayson Tatum Addresses Discourse Around His MVP Candidacy
Jaylen Brown Doesn't Win Dunk Contest but Delivers Most Poignant Moment
Jayson Tatum's Approach vs. Nets Tale of Two Halves and Steadfast Commitment
Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot
Brad Stevens Sheds Light on Celtics' Motivations for Xavier Tillman Trade
Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans
Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'
Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'
Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'
