Boston defeats Chicago 125-111 in the NBA Cup opener for both teams, with Payton Pritchard scoring 30 points and Jayson Tatum adding 26 points. The Celtics also get support from Paul George, who records 18 points and eight assists. Boston builds a large lead during the first half, pushing the advantage to as much as 32 with 1:52 left before the Bulls cut into it later. Chicago’s comeback is limited after Boston’s starters are pulled in the fourth quarter.
Several outlets highlight that Boston’s offense has multiple contributors and not a single scoring option. Yahoo Sports notes the Celtics combine for 74 points from Pritchard, Tatum and George, then extend the game using an inside-game push. Winnipeg Free Press and other write-ups similarly emphasize the ease of the Celtics’ win and Pritchard’s scoring impact.
A separate report set referenced by some outlets describes a later, larger Celtics win: a 134-99 rout featuring Pritchard scoring 28 points and hitting all five of his 3-point attempts during a decisive third quarter. That framing underscores Boston’s scoring bursts, though it differs from the 125-111 opener result.
