Game ID: 22301023
Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls
Saturday, March 23, 2024 at 8:00 PM ET
United Center, Chicago, IL
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CHI 31 29 32 21 113BOS 31 35 29 29 124
BOS @ CHI ScoutingBOS @ CHI Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CHI availability going into 3/14 · back-to-backBACK Craig back 3/07 after 7, 16 min since (83% of 20)
BACK Terry back 3/09 after 3, 5 min since (39% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 36 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/16 · 1 day's restBACK Craig back 3/07 after 7, 18 min since (93% of 20)
BACK Terry back 3/09 after 3, 7 min since (59% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 36 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/18 · 1 day's restOUT White missed 2 since 3/14, out tonight
BACK Terry back 3/09 after 3, 9 min since (79% of 12)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Bitim 12 to 18 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/21 · 2 days' restOUT White missed 3 since 3/14, returns tonight: 30 min (81% of 36)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 37 min over the last 5
NEW Bitim 12 to 21 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/23 · 1 day's restBACK White back 3/21 after 3, 30 min since (81% of 36)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Caruso 29 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Bitim 12 to 18 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Carter missed 2 since 3/21, returns tonight: 16 min (114% of 14)
BACK White back 3/21 after 3, 33 min since (89% of 36)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Terry 12 to 17 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/27 · 1 day's restOUT Green missed 2 since 3/23, returns tonight: 19 min (75% of 26)
BACK White back 3/21 after 3, 34 min since (93% of 36)
BACK Carter back 3/25 after 2, 16 min since (114% of 14)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 38 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/29 · 1 day's restBACK White back 3/21 after 3, 34 min since (94% of 36)
BACK Green back 3/27 after 2, 19 min since (75% of 26)
BACK Carter back 3/25 after 2, 10 min since (74% of 14)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 37 min over the last 5
CHI availability going into 3/31 · 1 day's restBACK White back 3/21 after 3, 35 min since (97% of 36)
BACK Green back 3/27 after 2, 18 min since (69% of 26)
BACK Carter back 3/25 after 2, 10 min since (74% of 14)
NEW Dosunmu 29 to 36 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/17 · 2 days' restOUT Porziņģis missed 4 since 3/09, out tonight
OUT Queta missed 2 since 3/12, returns tonight: 8 min (75% of 11)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 22 min since (180% of 12)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 13 min since (124% of 10)
NEW Kornet 15 to 20 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/18 · back-to-backOUT Porziņģis missed 5 since 3/09, returns tonight: 22 min (74% of 29)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 20 min since (160% of 12)
BACK Queta back 3/11 after 8, 5 min since (46% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 17 min since (162% of 10)
NEW Hauser 21 to 26 min over the last 5
NEW Kornet 15 to 20 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/20 · 1 day's restBACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 22 min since (74% of 29)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 19 min since (156% of 12)
BACK Queta back 3/11 after 8, 5 min since (46% of 11)
BACK Brissett back 3/11 after 3, 17 min since (165% of 10)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 29 min over the last 5
NEW Hauser 21 to 28 min over the last 4
NEW Kornet 15 to 22 min over the last 5
BOS availability going into 3/22 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 2 since 3/18, out tonight
OUT Hauser missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 24 min (116% of 21)
OUT Queta missed 2 since 3/18, returns tonight: 3 min (25% of 11)
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 25 min since (85% of 29)
BACK Tillman back 3/12 after 2, 18 min since (148% of 12)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 17 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/23 · back-to-backOUT Holiday missed 3 since 3/18, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 25 min since (87% of 29)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 24 min since (116% of 21)
BACK Queta back 3/17 after 2, 6 min since (50% of 11)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 18 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/25 · 1 day's restOUT Holiday missed 4 since 3/18, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 25 min since (87% of 29)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 28 min since (136% of 21)
BACK Queta back 3/17 after 2, 6 min since (50% of 11)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 35 min over the last 5
NEW Kornet 15 to 21 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 21 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/28 · 2 days' restOUT Holiday missed 5 since 3/18, returns tonight: 36 min (108% of 34)
OUT Queta missed 2 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Porziņģis back 3/18 after 5, 27 min since (94% of 29)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 28 min since (134% of 21)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Pritchard 22 to 34 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 16 min over the last 4
BOS availability going into 3/30 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 3 since 3/23, out tonight
BACK Holiday back 3/28 after 5, 36 min since (108% of 34)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 26 min since (128% of 21)
NEW Horford 28 to 35 min over the last 3
NEW Pritchard 22 to 30 min over the last 5
NEW Brissett 10 to 16 min over the last 3
BOS availability going into 4/01 · 1 day's restOUT Queta missed 4 since 3/23, out tonight
OUT Brissett missed 2 since 3/28, returns tonight: 13 min (126% of 10)
BACK Holiday back 3/28 after 5, 36 min since (106% of 34)
BACK Hauser back 3/22 after 2, 24 min since (115% of 21)
NEW Pritchard 22 to 27 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Dosunmu at 24 a game. One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 45 from three, 21 free throws a game; Brown at 30 and Tatum at 29 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holiday (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Chicago's 117 and the arc, Boston at 45 percent from three to Chicago's 38. Call it Boston 117, Chicago 114, Chicago keeping it close.
3/14 vs LAC 111-126 — CHI notes
CHI lost 111-126. CHI shot 48% (41 of 86) to LAC's 60%, 16 of 35 from three. DeRozan led with 21 (6 of 16, 2 of 5 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Vučević added 19, Caruso 17. Q2 was theirs, 27-27, but the other 3 periods went 99-84 against them. Caruso's -25 in 36 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/16 vs WAS 127-98 — CHI notes
CHI won 127-98. CHI shot 58% (49 of 85) to WAS's 43%, 8 of 24 from three, and went to the line 29 times to WAS's 22 — 21 points from the stripe to their 13. The glass went 51-32 for them. Dosunmu led with 34 (14 of 22, 4 of 7 from three); Vučević added 29, Caruso 16. The hinge was Q1, 32-19: from level to 13 ahead, and the lead reached 29. Dosunmu was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/18 vs POR 110-107 — CHI notes
CHI won 110-107. CHI shot 44% (41 of 93) to POR's 45%, 11 of 33 from three. DeRozan led with 28 (10 of 17, 7 of 7 at the line); Dosunmu added 23, Vučević 22. The hinge was Q3, 35-26: a lead of 5 became 14. DeRozan was the night's best plus/minus at +12.
3/21 @ HOU 117-127 — CHI notes
CHI lost 117-127. CHI shot 45% (42 of 93) to HOU's 51%, 12 of 31 from three. Dosunmu led with 35 (13 of 18, 5 of 6 from three); Vučević added 16, DeRozan 16. Q2 was theirs, 33-26, the deficit cut from 14 to 7, but the other 3 periods went 101-84 against them. Caruso's -15 in 35 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/23 vs BOS 113-124 — CHI notes
CHI lost 113-124. CHI shot 57% (47 of 82) to BOS's 51%, 9 of 24 from three, and got to the line just 11 times against 18 fouls committed. CHI turned it over 7 times to BOS's 12. The glass went 29-41 against them. DeRozan led with 28 (12 of 19); Dosunmu added 14, Vučević 14. Q3 was theirs, 32-29, the deficit cut from 6 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 95-81 against them. Terry's -15 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
3/25 vs WAS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 116, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 20 free throws a game; Dosunmu at 23 and DeRozan at 21 a game. One day's rest. Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 19 and Poole at 18 a game. Without Jones (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the turnovers, Washington giving it away 15 times a game to Chicago's 11. Call it Chicago 119, Washington 112.
3/27 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 23 free throws a game; Dosunmu at 24 and DeRozan at 22 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Green (2 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 118, shooting 53 percent and 42 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 27 and Haliburton at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, Indiana at 42 percent from three to Chicago's 34 and the line, where Chicago takes 23 free throws a game to Indiana's 18. Call it Indiana 118, Chicago 117, Chicago keeping it close.
3/29 @ BKN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 102 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 29 from three, 19 free throws a game; Thomas at 26 and Bridges at 18 a game. Without Cam. Johnson (2 straight), Smith Jr. (2 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 113, shooting 47 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; DeRozan at 25 and Dosunmu at 20 a game. One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the arc, Chicago at 36 percent from three to Brooklyn's 29 and the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-4 a night and Chicago minus-3. Call it Brooklyn 111, Chicago 110, Chicago keeping it close.
3/31 @ MIN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Minnesota comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 109 a night and allowing 101, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Edwards at 21 and McDaniels at 17 a game. That is 4 straight wins. Without Towns (11 straight). One day's rest. Chicago comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; DeRozan at 26 and Dosunmu at 19 a game. One day's rest.
So: Minnesota wins, and the game turns on the defense, Minnesota allowing 101 a night to Chicago's 116 and the arc, Minnesota at 40 percent from three to Chicago's 35. Call it Minnesota 114, Chicago 107.
3/17 @ WAS 130-104 — BOS notes
BOS won 130-104. BOS shot 49% (43 of 87) to WAS's 46%, 24 of 50 from three, and went to the line 24 times to WAS's 14 — 20 points from the stripe to their 12. Tatum led with 30 (8 of 17, 6 of 12 from three, 8 of 10 at the line); Hauser added 30, Pritchard 14. The hinge was Q1, 45-27: from level to 18 ahead, and the lead reached 36. Tatum was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
3/18 vs DET 119-94 — BOS notes
BOS won 119-94. BOS shot 45% (43 of 95) to DET's 43%, 22 of 49 from three. The glass went 53-43 for them. Brown led with 31 (11 of 20, 3 of 6 from three, 6 of 8 at the line); Pritchard added 23, White 22. The hinge was Q3, 33-20: a lead of 13 became 26, and the lead reached 29. Brown was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
3/20 vs MIL 122-119 — BOS notes
BOS won 122-119. BOS shot 47% (40 of 85) to MIL's 54%, 18 of 40 from three, and went to the line 29 times to MIL's 14 — 24 points from the stripe to their 12. BOS turned it over 9 times to MIL's 14. Tatum led with 31 (9 of 19, 4 of 7 from three, 9 of 10 at the line); White added 23, Brown 21. The hinge was Q2, 36-28: a lead of 5 became 13, and the lead reached 21. Horford was the night's best plus/minus at +15.
3/22 @ DET 129-102 — BOS notes
BOS won 129-102. BOS shot 53% (47 of 89) to DET's 51%, 16 of 45 from three, and went to the line 27 times to DET's 13 — 19 points from the stripe to their 9. BOS turned it over 7 times to DET's 18. Brown led with 33 (13 of 19, 3 of 8 from three, 4 of 7 at the line); Pritchard added 20, White 19. The hinge was Q2, 37-19: BOS came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 16, and the lead reached 27. White was the night's best plus/minus at +23.
3/23 @ CHI 124-113 — BOS notes
BOS won 124-113. BOS shot 51% (44 of 86) to CHI's 57%, 21 of 48 from three, and went to the line 17 times to CHI's 11 — 15 points from the stripe to their 10. BOS turned it over 12 times to CHI's 7. The glass went 41-29 for them. Tatum led with 26 (8 of 20, 2 of 7 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Hauser added 23, Horford 23. The hinge was Q4, 29-21: a lead of 3 became 11. Pritchard was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
3/25 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 114, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 25 and Johnson at 23 a game. Without Young (14 straight), Johnson (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 106, shooting 49 percent and 44 from three, 22 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Brown at 28 a game. That is 5 straight wins. Without Holiday (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 106 a night to Atlanta's 114 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-3 a night and Atlanta minus-1. Call it Boston 119, Atlanta 114.
3/28 @ ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Atlanta comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 116, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Bogdanović at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Young (16 straight), Johnson (4 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 110, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 27 a game. Without Holiday (5 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Atlanta's 116. Call it Boston 119, Atlanta 115, Atlanta keeping it close.
3/30 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 106, shooting 48 percent and 36 from three, 24 free throws a game; McCollum at 24 and Williamson at 23 a game. Without Ingram (4 straight), Daniels (21 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 115, shooting 50 percent and 39 from three, 23 free throws a game; Tatum at 31 and Brown at 24 a game. One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 106 a night to Boston's 115. Call it New Orleans 115, Boston 114, Boston keeping it close.
4/01 @ CHA — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Charlotte comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Bridges at 22 and Miller at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 6 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. Boston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Tatum at 29 and Brown at 23 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 110 a night to Charlotte's 121 and the glass, where Boston has been minus-0 a night and Charlotte minus-6. Call it Boston 119, Charlotte 108, Boston by 11.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BOSAH A. Horford
DW D. White
JT J. Tatum
LK L. Kornet
OB O. Brissett
PP P. Pritchard
SH S. Hauser
SM S. Mykhailiuk
XT X. Tillman
CHIAC A. Caruso
AD A. Dosunmu
AD A. Drummond
CW C. White
DD D. DeRozan
DT D. Terry
NV N. Vučević
OB O. Bitim
TC T. Craig
VU Vucevic
BOS/CHI the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Tatum, Hauser, Horford lead way as NBA-leading Celtics beat Bulls 124-113 for 9th straight win
CHICAGO -- — Whether Jayson Tatum is missing a game or Jaylen Brown is sitting out the next night, the Boston Celtics just keep rolling along. Make it nine straight wins now for the team with the NBA's best record.
Tatum scored 26 points, Sam Hauser and Al Horford added 23 apiece, and the Celtics made enough plays down the stretch to beat the Chicago Bulls 124-113 on Saturday night.
“We're just hungry for more,” Hauser said. “It's not in our character to just, like, mail it in for the rest of the season.”
Hauser made 7 of 8 3-pointers, while Horford hit five of Boston's 21 from beyond the arc. Derrick White scored 17. Payton Pritchard added 15 points and eight assists, and Luke Kornet grabbed 13 rebounds.
The Celtics pulled within two wins of their season-best streak even though Brown (sprained right ankle) and Kristaps Porzingis (right hamstring) sat out the game.
Playing its fifth game in seven nights, Boston scored nine straight to go up by eight early in the fourth quarter and remained in the lead the rest of the way. It was a six-point game when Luke Kornet scored on a tip-in and Tatum — who missed Friday's game at Detroit to rest his ailing right ankle — drove for a layup to make it 117-107 with 3:04 remaining.
“Different people, different guys, are ready to step up when their number’s called,” said Horford, who sat out the Pistons game because of a sprained left big toe. “We all understand what we’re trying to do, how we’re trying to play. Guys are just staying ready and taking advantage of the opportunities.”
DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 26 points. Alex Caruso , Nikola Vucevic and Ayo Dosunmu each scored 14 as the Bulls dropped their second in a row. Chicago shot 57% and committed just seven turnovers, but got dominated 23-2 on second-chance points.
Chicago's Dalen Terry had the crowd roaring late in the third quarter with a thunderous tip-in dunk off a missed jumper by DeRozan to give the Bulls a one-point lead. They were up 92-91 in the closing minute of the quarter when Pritchard made a finger-roll layup and two free throws to start a nine-point spurt for Boston. Hauser capped it with a 3 in the opening minute of the fourth to make it 100-92.
Tatum scored 19 and Sam Hauser added 14 points as hot-shooting Boston grabbed a 66-60 halftime lead.
The Celtics made 13 of 27 3-pointers, with Hauser nailing 4 of 5 and Horford hitting three. Tatum buried a step-back jumper and a 3 to make it 66-55 with just over a minute remaining, before Vucevic made a hook shot for Chicago and White connected from beyond the arc to make it a six-point game.
The Bulls signed guard/forward Javonte Green to a 10-day contract, bringing him back for a second stint with the team. Green spent parts of three seasons in Chicago after being acquired from Boston as part of a three-team trade involving Washington in March 2021. He played in 10 games this season for Golden State's G League affiliate.