Game Details
Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM ET
Venue: United Center, Chicago, Illinois (home game for Chicago Bulls)
Broadcast: CHSN, NBCSB, NBA League Pass; streaming on Fubo
This Eastern Conference clash pits the Boston Celtics against the Chicago Bulls in a potential playoff preview. The Celtics, coming off a strong win streak, aim to continue their dominance over the Bulls, while Chicago looks to leverage home-court advantage at the United Center to snap a potential skid. With injuries affecting both sides, expect a focus on defense and rebounding in what could be a low-scoring affair.
The Celtics lead the Atlantic Division with elite three-point shooting (38.5%) and a top-5 offense. The Bulls hold a play-in spot, relying on balanced scoring but ranking bottom-10 in defensive efficiency.
Recent Team Forms
Both teams have shown resilience, but Boston has been more consistent.
Boston Celtics (Form: W-W-W-L-W):
Jan 23 at Brooklyn Nets: W 130-126 (overcame deficit; Pritchard 32 points)
Jan 21 vs. Indiana Pacers: W 119-104 (dominant second half).
Jan 17 vs. Atlanta Hawks: W 132-106 (Brown 41 points)
Jan 15 (loss per trends).
Jan 5 vs. Chicago Bulls: W 115-101 (strong defense)
The Celtics average 124.4 points per game recently, allowing 111.4, with a 4-1 record. They’ve won three straight, led by efficient shooting (49.5% FG) but vulnerable to fast breaks.
Chicago Bulls (Form: W-L-W-L-L):
Jan 20 vs. LA Clippers: W 138-110 (matched season-high 45 points in Q2)
Jan 18 vs. Brooklyn Nets: W (highlights indicate win)
Jan 17 (loss).
Jan 5 at Boston Celtics: L 101-115
Jan 2 vs. Orlando Magic: W 121-114
The Bulls average 116.2 points per game in this stretch, allowing 118.8, with a 3-2 record. They’ve shown offensive flashes but rank bottom-5 in rebounds allowed.
Series History
The Celtics and Bulls have a rich history, with 248 regular-season meetings. Boston holds the edge at 138-110. Regular Season Head-to-Head: Celtics lead 138-110, with an average combined score of 205.8 points per game. Recent History: Celtics are 4-1 in the last 5 meetings; Boston won the most recent on Jan 5, 2026 (115-101). Playoff History: Celtics lead 18-5 in 23 games. Trends: Games trend over the total (average 216 points in last 5); Celtics are 3-2 at Chicago in recent years
Injury Report
Boston Celtics:
Josh Minott (SF): Out (left ankle sprain)
Derrick White (SG): Out (rest)
Jayson Tatum (SF): Out (Achilles tendinitis)
Chicago Bulls:
Zach Collins (PF): Out (right 1st toe sprain)
Noa Essengue (PF): Out (left shoulder surgery)
Josh Giddey (PG): Out (right foot surgery)
Boston’s wing depth is tested without Tatum, potentially relying on Brown for heavy minutes, while Chicago’s frontcourt and guard play suffer.
Key Player Matchups
Injuries force adjustments, but these battles could decide the game.
Jaylen Brown (Celtics, SF) vs. Nikola Vučević (Bulls, C): Brown’s scoring (25.0 PPG) and athleticism test Vučević’s interior presence (18.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG). This mismatch could open driving lanes.
Payton Pritchard (Celtics, PG) vs. Coby White (Bulls, PG): Pritchard’s recent explosion (32 points vs. Nets) faces White’s speed (20.0 PPG). Guard play controls tempo.
Jarrett Allen (Celtics, C) vs. Patrick Williams (Bulls, PF): Allen’s rim protection (12.0 PPG, 10.0 RPG) vs. Williams’ versatility (15.0 PPG). Rebounding battle is crucial.
**Al Horford (Celtics, PF) vs. Ayo Dosunmu (Bulls, SG): Secondary bigs; Horford’s experience vs. Dosunmu’s quickness.
Boston’s depth edges out, but Chicago’s size could dominate if Vučević exploits.
Betting Trends
Boston Celtics: 3-2 ATS in last 5; over hits in 3 of last 5 away games. Celtics are 5-5 ATS as favorites, but 4-1 ATS vs. Central Division. Chicago Bulls: 2-3 ATS in last 5; under hits in 4 of last 5 home games. Bulls are 3-2 ATS as underdogs, but 2-3 SU at home vs. Atlantic. Head-to-Head Trends: Over in 3 of last 5 (average 216 points); Bulls 2-3 ATS in last 5 meetings. League trend: January 2026 Eastern games trend over 55% with spreads under 5 points.
Game Odds
Boston Celtic 230.5
Chicago Bulls – 1.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, January 23, 2026
