Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Eastern Conference foes meet at TD Garden. The Celtics are slight favorites at home after bouncing back with a win over the Knicks; the Bulls are searching for consistency, particularly from beyond the arc, after a mixed start.
Injury Reports
Bulls:
Nic Claxton (hamstring) — Out
Noa Essengue (head contusion) — Day-to-day/Questionable
Patrick Williams (groin/adductor) — Day-to-day/Questionable
celticswire.usatoday.com +2
Celtics:
Devin Carter (illness) — Out
Boston is mostly healthy at the star level. Chicago is missing its primary big (Claxton) and has uncertainty with two forwards.
Current Rosters
Chicago Bulls: Key pieces include Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson (rookie standout early), Jalen Smith, Buddy Hield, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, Leonard Miller, Zach Collins, and others. Projected/recent starters often feature Giddey, Powell, Buzelis, Wilson, and Smith.
Boston Celtics: Core includes Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson/Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, Sam Hauser, and others. Expected starters frequently listed as White, Walsh, Tatum, George, and Robinson (or Queta).
Early leaders: Wilson (~22.3 PPG for Chicago), George and Tatum pacing Boston scoring and playmaking.
Key Player Matchups
Jayson Tatum / Paul George vs. Matas Buzelis / Caleb Wilson / Bulls wings: Tatum (36 points in recent win) and George form a formidable duo. Wilson (rookie, high usage early) and Buzelis will be tested defensively and offensively against Boston’s length and versatility.
Josh Giddey vs. Derrick White / Celtics guards: Giddey’s playmaking and rebounding vs. White’s two-way impact and Boston’s perimeter pressure. Pritchard provides secondary creation.
Frontcourt: Jalen Smith / Zach Collins (with Claxton out) against Mitchell Robinson / Neemias Queta. Boston’s rim protection and rebounding edge is significant; Chicago will need second-chance points and interior scoring.
Shooting battle: Bulls have struggled mightily from three early (league-worst ~22.6%); Celtics feature multiple capable shooters (Hauser, White, Tatum, George).
Recent Team Forms
Bulls (1-2): Win at Milwaukee (132-125), heavy loss at Toronto (92-135), loss vs. Washington (120-124). Scoring is volatile; 3-point shooting is a major early issue. Giddey facilitating, Wilson showing scoring flashes. Allowing high points.
Celtics (1-1): Loss at Detroit (113-121), home win vs. New York (107-103). Tatum dominant in the win (36 points); strong contributions from Queta and others. Home court has been a positive so far.
Boston looks more stable; Chicago is still finding its offensive identity under the new staff.
Series History
Boston has dominated recent meetings, winning 9 of the past 11. The teams are scheduled for another matchup later in the week (Oct. 30 in Boston). Historical edge strongly favors the Celtics, especially at home.
Betting Trends
Large home favorites early in the season. Bulls’ poor 3-point shooting and injuries inflate the spread. Public often piles on big favorites; look for potential value on the underdog side if the number balloons further. Last season’s context and Boston’s home strength support a sizable line.
Game Odds
Chicago Bulls 233
Boston Celtics – 14
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, October 25, 2026
