BOSTON (Interstat) — Anfernee Simons scored 27 points and the Boston Celtics used a dominant first half to defeat the Chicago Bulls 115-101 on Monday night at TD Garden. The Celtics held Chicago to just 33 points before halftime, building a lead that reached 23 points. Boston won its fourth consecutive game and eighth in its last nine outings. Payton Pritchard added 21 points for the Celtics, and Neemias Queta contributed 13 points and 13 rebounds. Despite a game-high 26 points from Matas Buzelis and a 15-point, 15-rebound effort from Nikola Vucevic, the Bulls could not recover from their slow start. Chicago fell to 17-19 with the loss, while Boston improved to 23-12.

BOSTON (Interstat) — The Boston Celtics’ defense set a suffocating tone, and their offense, led by a blistering performance from Anfernee Simons, provided more than enough firepower to turn back a late Chicago Bulls rally for a 115-101 victory Monday night at TD Garden. A crowd of 19,156 watched the Celtics win their fourth consecutive game and eighth in their last nine, improving to 23-12. The Bulls, who were held to a season-low for points in a first half, fell to 17-19. The most critical phase of the contest was its opening 24 minutes, where Boston built an insurmountable lead by dominating on both ends. The Celtics raced to a 31-14 lead after the first quarter, capitalizing on early Bulls turnovers and missed shots. Chicago’s offense was utterly stagnant, managing just 19 points in the second period to enter halftime trailing 54-33. The 33-point half was a season-worst for the Bulls. Boston’s defensive pressure was comprehensive, but it was the offensive execution of guard Anfernee Simons that proved devastating. Simons scored 27 points, hitting 7 of 13 from three-point range, to lead all scorers. His backcourt mate, Payton Pritchard, added 21 points, six rebounds and five assists, connecting on three three-pointers of his own. The Celtics’ dominance extended to the interior, where reserve center Neemias Queta posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds, controlling the glass and providing key second-chance opportunities. Derrick White orchestrated the offense with seven assists to go with 10 points and six rebounds. For the Bulls, the night was defined by a disastrous start and a valiant, but ultimately futile, second-half comeback. After the intermission, Chicago’s offense awoke, spearheaded by forward Matas Buzelis and center Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls poured in 34 points in both the third and fourth quarters, repeatedly cutting into what was once a 24-point Boston lead. Buzelis scored 26 points, with 22 coming after halftime, while Vucevic recorded a triple-double with 15 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. Ayo Dosunmu contributed 15 points and five assists off the bench, and Tre Jones added 10 points. The Bulls closed the gap to 104-100 with 4:47 remaining after a Vucevic three-pointer, capping a sustained push that brought them back from the brink. However, the Celtics immediately responded to snuff out the threat. On the ensuing possession, Simons drilled a step-back three-pointer. After a Chicago miss, Jaylen Brown found Queta for a dunk, and following another Bulls turnover, Simons assisted on a Derrick White three-pointer. That 8-0 run in just over a minute pushed the lead back to 112-100 with 3:14 to play and effectively sealed the game. Brown, who scored a career-high 50 points in Boston’s win at the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, was held to 14 points on 6-of-24 shooting but contributed six assists. His off-night was more than offset by the backcourt combination of Simons and Pritchard. The Celtics, who were installed as 10.5-point pregame favorites, easily covered the spread. The total score of 216 fell well under the over/under line of 236, largely due to Chicago’s anemic first-half output. Boston now looks ahead to a matchup with the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday at TD Garden. The Bulls continue a road trip against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday before returning home to face the Miami Heat on Thursday. The two teams will meet again in Chicago on Jan. 24.

Bulls, Celtics Set for Showdown in Boston BOSTON (Interstat) — The surging Chicago Bulls, winners of six of their last eight, will look to continue their climb up the Eastern Conference standings when they visit the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on Monday night. Chicago (17-17) arrives after a 121-114 home victory over Orlando on Friday, a game in which rookie forward Matas Buzelis shined with 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. The Bulls have found an offensive rhythm, averaging 124.6 points over their last five contests. Boston (21-12), however, presents a formidable challenge on its home floor. The Celtics have won four of their last five, including a 120-106 road win at Sacramento on New Year’s Day. All-Star Jaylen Brown powered that victory with 29 points and 10 rebounds, continuing an elite stretch where he has averaged 30.3 points over his last 10 games. The matchup between Buzelis and Brown will be a focal point. Buzelis, a key driver of Chicago’s recent success, has posted two 20-point performances in his last three games. Brown remains the Celtics’ offensive engine, recording a double-double in two of his last three outings. The Bulls have relied on balanced contributions, with Nikola Vucevic adding 17 points and 10 rebounds against Orlando. Boston counters with a deep roster where Derrick White (16 points, seven assists vs. Sacramento) and Sam Hauser (15 points) provide consistent support. This game marks the first of two meetings between the teams this month, with a rematch scheduled in Chicago on Jan. 24. Following Monday’s contest, the Bulls begin a back-to-back at Detroit on Wednesday. The Celtics will host the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday in a marquee interconference clash. Monday’s tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.