Boston beat Chicago 134-99 on Monday, then needed an overtime buzzer-beater to get past Brooklyn the next night. That sharp contrast matters with the Celtics now favored by 15.5 points in another meeting with the Bulls. Chicago’s latest game brought a much better scoring performance, but also another reminder that its defense can undo a productive offensive night.
Chicago found its shot, then lost its lead
Norman Powell scored 30 points on 10-for-15 shooting in Wednesday’s 133-127 loss to New York. Caleb Wilson added 20, Matas Buzelis had 17 and Jalen Smith finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulls made 18 of 42 three-pointers.
They also let a second-half lead that reached 19 points disappear. New York took control with a 10-2 fourth-quarter run, and Chicago’s late push left it needing a tying three-pointer that Powell missed. Scoring 127 was progress from the 99 points in Boston, but it didn’t solve the problem of protecting a lead.
Our grades reflect that divide: Chicago’s offense receives a B, while its defense is D-. The Bulls have allowed at least 124 points in each of their first five games. That’s a substantial obstacle when the opponent has already shown it can turn this matchup into a comfortable win.
Smith is questionable for Friday with a left finger sprain. His availability matters after Wednesday’s double-double, particularly as Chicago tries to bring more than Powell’s scoring back to Boston.
Tatum delivered, but Boston had little separation
Jayson Tatum scored 40 points and hit the winning jumper as Boston edged Brooklyn 125-124 in overtime Tuesday. He made 10 of 20 shots and 18 of 22 free throws; Paul George and Derrick White added 20 and 16 points, respectively.
Boston made only 2 of 16 three-point attempts in the first half, and neither team led by more than eight. Two missed Mitchell Robinson free throws gave Brooklyn its late chance to force overtime. Tatum supplied the final answer, but the Celtics’ third straight win offered little evidence of the separation they had created against Chicago.
We rate Boston’s defense A-, giving it a strong foundation against the Bulls’ better offensive showing. Our D+ offensive assessment is a counterweight to treating Monday’s 134 points as the automatic baseline. Chicago’s weak defense gives Boston an opening; sustaining efficient offense remains the task.
Our projections put the Celtics at about 12 turnovers against Chicago’s 15. That ball-security outlook favors Boston, while the Bulls have the higher assist projection, roughly 28 against 25. The comparison leaves Chicago a plausible route through shared offensive production, but fewer wasted possessions would help Boston turn its defensive advantage into a more controlled game.
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The 235.5 total depends on which strengths carry over
DraftKings has the total at 235.5. Chicago’s three-point production and its repeated defensive problems create a clear case for scoring. Tatum’s latest performance adds another source of offense, although Boston’s overtime finish and heavy reliance on his free throws give that final score important context.
The counterweight is Boston’s strong defensive assessment against a Bulls team that struggled badly in Monday’s meeting. Chicago’s games have gone Under in three of five this season, and Boston’s four games have split evenly. Those results describe varied matchups; Friday’s useful test is whether Chicago can sustain Wednesday’s shooting against this particular defense.
The spread asks something more of Boston than simply extending its winning streak. Monday showed how it can separate from Chicago, while Tuesday showed how a victory can remain in doubt until the last shot. For the Bulls, another productive offensive night has to come with enough stops to prevent a scoring burst from deciding the game.
Boston’s defense and the earlier head-to-head result support its favorite role. Chicago’s improved shooting is the main counterweight, with Smith’s status part of that picture. The strongest guide to the rematch is whether Boston can limit that response while finding steadier offense than it had against Brooklyn.
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