Well, we didn’t really expect to win this one, did we?
After the Boston Celtics dominated the Bulls earlier this week, they delivered a repeat telecast tonight in Caleb Wilson and company’s first NBA Cup game.
Boston’s first-half avalanche shellshocked Chicago and made their second-half comeback feel more like a consolation prize than anything else.
But the Bulls’ rookie and the silver lining of this season, Caleb Wilson, continued his incredible rookie campaign, recording his fourth 20+ point performance with plenty of highlights and reasons to be excited about what’s ahead.
Let’s get into the recap.
Caleb Wilson, Paul George. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn ImagesThe Moment the Bulls Lost the Game
Yikes, that got out of hand quickly. And again, this has been the theme throughout the season with the Bulls: coming out completely flat to start games.
I mean, the Boston Celtics had 38 points in the paint and 19 points off turnovers in the first half. There couldn’t have been an easier way for Boston to get going.
Payton Pritchard picked up right where he left off after his demolition of Chicago, putting up 20 first-half points and delivering a play that was a real aura snatcher if you’re a Matas Buzelis believer. The 6’1″ Pritchard out-rebounded and bodied the 6’8″ Matas before mean-mugging him.
BUZELIS IS TOO SMALL FOR PAYTON PRITCHARD pic.twitter.com/XvAdhUt9TW
— Dan ☘️ (@TheCelticsDan) October 31, 2026Outside of PP, Jayson Tatum looked as good as expected, while Paul George led the Celtics with three steals in the first half. The three of them combined for just one fewer point than the entire Bulls team.
For Chicago, it was just one of those nights. Those high-percentage shots that the numbers raved about continued not to fall, with the Bulls shooting just 19% from three. Josh Giddey was just god-awful. Again. Two points, one assist and four turnovers at halftime is not exactly what you want from the team’s best playmaker.
At least Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Norman Powell looked okay, I guess.
But Chicago could literally watch their NBA Cup dreams slip away in a game where they trailed by as many as 32 in the first half. That’s particularly concerning when point differential could play such a big role in determining their fate. Chicago did win the offensive rebounding battle 11-5, but failed to turn those extra boards into a meaningful advantage in shot attempts.
With one half gone, there was still another 24 minutes to force a comeback or at least save face. But honestly, I have no idea what either of those looks like anymore.
Halftime update.Norm & Matas: 11 points each pic.twitter.com/HuG3e2SDUo
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) October 31, 2026Signs of Life for the Bulls?
The halftime speech Tiago Splitter gave must have hit close to home because the Bulls came out looking like a completely different team in the third quarter. They played with aggression and urgency, and it showed up on the scoreboard. Not by much, but Chicago managed to cut the deficit down to the high teens before the Celtics pushed it back to 22 heading into the fourth quarter.
Bulls starters finally showing some life. Good effort from Caleb to maintain the possession on some very tough defense from PG, then Smith creates the second chance opportunity. pic.twitter.com/hQrXz7GW43
— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) October 31, 2026The Bulls were fighting harder for second and third chances on possessions while doing a much better job of not allowing Boston to get easy points. Payton Pritchard certainly wasn’t looking like a Halloween nightmare anymore, as Chicago started playing much more physically against the 6’1″ Celtics guard.
That momentum carried into the fourth quarter, where the Bulls got closer to Boston than they had been since digging themselves into that massive hole.
Caleb Wilson had another amazing game. He finished with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and one steal, while knocking down a career-high six three-pointers. He became the first Bulls rookie since Coby White to make six threes in a game, and this was only the sixth game of his young NBA career.
Good ball movement leads to Caleb popping a three over Tatum. He has 20 points so far. pic.twitter.com/rxJ2EQr65v
— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) October 31, 2026And then there’s the passing. Something the Bulls have clearly been focused on developing by giving Caleb the opportunity to get his reps in, and it’s working.
All those dimes have looked good, but that behind-the-back pass to Josh Giddey was the cherry on top, for sure.
Idgaf that we suck I will keep watching every night while Caleb keeps playing like this pic.twitter.com/J4k8AEzVu3
— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) October 31, 2026Giddey also had a much better second half, scoring 13 points without committing a single turnover. He finished with a plus-2 in a 15-point loss. I just need one game from him where he does that from tip-off to the final buzzer.
The Chicago Bulls take their first loss of the 2026-27 NBA Cup but did manage to bring the point differential down to just 14 after winning the third and fourth quarters by a combined 15 points.
So, just according to the script: a big loss, but with some good and promising flashes. We’ll take it, I guess?
FULL BOX SCORE
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