NBA Cup Debut: Boston's 56 Paint Points Sink Chicago 125-111
Payton Pritchard scored 30 points and Boston converted 16 Chicago turnovers into 21 points in Friday's NBA Cup opener for both teams.
By Elena Vargas ·
Boston put 56 points in the paint and Payton Pritchard added 30 as the Celtics beat Chicago 125-111 on Friday night, opening NBA Cup group play for both clubs. The Celtics led by 32 with 1:52 left in the second quarter. Chicago's starters did not cut into that margin until the fourth quarter, after Boston had already pulled its first unit.
Pritchard had 20 points by halftime and shot 9 of 17 for the game. He scored 28 points in 22 minutes against Chicago on Oct. 26, a Boston win. Jayson Tatum finished with 26 points in 34 minutes, and Paul George had 18 points with eight assists. Boston has won four straight.
Chicago turned the ball over 16 times, which produced 21 Boston points. The Bulls gave it away 25 times in Monday's 35-point loss to the Celtics, and those turnovers became 39 Boston points. Caleb Wilson scored 23 for Chicago, Norman Powell 16 and Matas Buzelis 14. The Bulls shot 35 of 92 from the field, 38%, and 15 of 50 from 3, 30%. Chicago has lost four in a row.
Chicago visits Philadelphia on Monday. Boston plays at Orlando on Sunday.
Source: WHDH
