CELTICS BEAT BULLS 134-99 AS PRITCHARD SCORES 28

The Boston Celtics beat the Chicago Bulls 134-99 at TD Garden on Monday night, improving to 2-1 for the season. Payton Pritchard scored a game-high 28 points off the bench, including 19 in the third quarter. Boston outscored Chicago 39-21 in that quarter after the Bulls had stayed close through the first half. Pritchard made all five of his three-point attempts in the third quarter and shot seven of eight from the field during that period.

Jayson Tatum scored 19 points before half-time and finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes. His first-half total included Boston’s final seven points of the second quarter and a three-pointer at the buzzer. Pritchard finished with four assists and two steals, shooting 10 of 16 from the field and seven of 10 from three-point range. Paul George scored 16 points for Boston, while Sam Hauser added 11 off the bench, including three three-pointers.

The 35-point margin gave Boston its second win in three games this season. Pritchard’s 19 points in the third quarter marked his highest-scoring quarter to date. Mike Conley entered during the fourth quarter for his first appearance as a Celtic. Boston were scheduled to host the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, the second game of consecutive nights, with Brooklyn entering that fixture at 0-3.