Bulls Celtics rematch: Why Boston can't expect a blowout
The Bulls Celtics rematch at TD Garden tonight is Boston's first 2026 NBA Cup Group Play game—and the Celtics cannot assume another 134-99 blowout. Four days after dominating Chicago, Boston faces a tighter test with point differential on the line, key Bulls availability questions, and a demanding stretch of eight games in 13 nights ahead.
Key Takeaways
- Tip-off is 7:30 p.m. ET at TD Garden on NBC Sports Boston, with Pregame Live at 6:30 p.m. ET.
- Boston routed Chicago 134-99 on Monday; this rematch is both clubs' first Group Play tip of the 2026 Emirates NBA Cup.
- Devin Carter (mono) is out for the Celtics; Nic Claxton is out for the Bulls, with Williams, Awaka, and Smith listed as questionable.
- Point differential is a key Group Play tiebreaker, so margin still matters after head-to-head.
- Boston sits on a three-game win streak; Chicago is trying to snap a three-game skid.
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Why can't the Celtics expect another blowout?
Monday's win looked like a mismatch. Boston led by as many as 40, never trailed, shot 21-of-44 from three, forced 14 steals, and turned Bulls mistakes into 39 points, per Yahoo Sports.
Payton Pritchard poured in 28 points on 7-of-10 threes, Jayson Tatum added 23 points and six assists, and the bench piled up 79 points. A third-quarter surge of 39-21 sealed it.
Repeating that requires crisp execution, not overconfidence. Live-ball turnovers fueled a Bulls second-quarter run last time, and coach Joe Mazzulla noted many stem from aggressive reads—blitzed pick-and-rolls and kick-aheads—that need cleaner timing as Mitchell Robinson finds his footing.
What is on the Bulls Celtics injury report?
Boston lists Devin Carter out with mononucleosis. Chicago has Nic Claxton (hamstring) out while starting conditioning. Patrick Williams (groin), Tobe Awaka (ankle), and Jalen Smith (finger) are questionable.
How those Bulls tags resolve could tighten the rematch. Officials for the night are Pat Fraher, Nate Green, and Scott Twardoski.
How does this NBA Cup Group Play game work?
Boston and Chicago open Eastern Conference Group C alongside the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, and Washington Wizards, according to NBC Boston.
Each team plays four Group Play games. The group winner reaches the knockouts, with a wild-card path also possible. Head-to-head is the first tiebreaker; point differential is second—so a blowout still has tournament value if the chance appears.
The Celtics did not advance past the group stage last season. After an opening loss to Detroit, they have beaten New York, Chicago, and Brooklyn. Tatum leads Boston at 28.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per game. Rookie Caleb Wilson has paced Chicago at 20.8 points and 7.0 rebounds amid the losing streak.
TV is NBC Sports Boston; streaming is available on Fubo, with tip at 7:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 30 at TD Garden, per NESN. Next for Boston: Magic, Rockets, Bucks, and Hornets on a compressed road-heavy stretch.