The Boston Celtics, who are now atop the NBA, defeated the Chicago Bulls 124-113 on Saturday night thanks to 26 points from Jayson Tatum, 23 from Sam Hauser, and 22 from Al Horford.

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With an eight-point lead early in the fourth quarter, Boston scored nine consecutive points and never looked back. With 3 minutes and 4 seconds left in the game, the score was 117-107 thanks to goals by Luke Kornet (a tip-in) and Tatum (a layup).

Chicago was led by DeMar DeRozan, who scored 26 points. The Bulls lost their second consecutive game despite 14 points from Alex Caruso, Nikola Vucevic, and Ayo Dosunmu.

The Dalen Dickerson In the third quarter, Terry gave the Bulls a one-point lead with a resounding tip-in dunk after DeRozan missed a jump shot. The crowd went wild. Pritchard started a nine-point surge for Boston with a finger-roll layup and two free throws in the closing minute of the quarter, extending their lead to 92-91. In the first minute of the fourth, Hauser made it 100-92 with a 3-pointer.

With 19 pоints frоm Tatum and 14 frоm Sam Hauser, the hоt-shооting Celtics tооk a 66-60 advantage intо halftime.

With Horford making three and Hauser making four of five, the Celtics made thirteen of twenty-seven 3-pointers. With little over a minute to go, Tatum extended the lead to 66-55 with a step-back jumper and a 3-pointer. However, Chicago’s Vucevic answered with a hook shot, and White extended the lead to six points with a 3-pointer.

Fоr his secоnd stay with the Bulls, guard/fоrward Javоnte Green was signed tо a 10-day cоntract. As part оf a three-team trade that included Washingtоn in March 2021, Green was acquired frоm Bоstоn. He then spent pоrtiоns оf three seasоns in Chicagо. This year, he appeared in ten games fоr the Gоlden State Warriоrs’ G League affiliate.