Simons Sparks Celtics Past Bulls in 115-101 Win

Boston just slammed the door on Chicago, 115-101, and a new voice led the roar. Anfernee Simons poured in 27 points, set the tone early, and kept firing late. I watched Boston’s offense open like a parachute around him. The Bulls could not close that space fast enough. It felt like the night Boston needed to show another gear. It got one, and it looked dangerous. 🔥
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Simons seizes the night

Simons’ first burst changed the game. He hit rhythm jumpers, then attacked the lane when Chicago chased him over screens. The Celtics used him on the ball and off it. The movement forced switches that the Bulls did not want. When the defense tilted, Boston sliced into the seams.

His shot diet was clean. Catch and shoot threes. One hard dribble pull ups. Strong finishes on straight line drives. He did not dance. He read the first defender, then trusted the pass to keep the edge. The simple stuff broke Chicago’s shell.

How Boston opened the gap

This game turned on pace and poise. Boston won the second and third quarters by staying patient, then hitting the gas at the right time. The defense fed the offense. Deflections became runouts. Half court sets became layups because the first action had teeth.

Here were the swing moments I flagged in real time:

• Simons’ eight point burst to start the second quarter
• A two stop, two three sequence that pushed the lead to double digits
• Boston’s bench holding serve while starters rested
• A late third quarter close that quieted a Bulls push

Chicago tried to counter by packing the paint. Boston answered with spacing and quick decisions. The Celtics trusted the pass, and the extra pass kept coming. The Bulls’ closeouts grew longer. The fouls added up. The free points hurt.

What it means for the Celtics

If this is the version of Simons Boston gets, the ceiling rises. He bends coverage on his own. That helps Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown breathe in tough stretches. It shifts a defender out of the lane. It opens the drive for cutters. It gives Boston a scorer who does not need a complex set to find a good shot.

You could feel the chain reaction. Tatum controlled pace and drew help. Brown hunted gaps and put pressure on the rim. Role players stepped in and hit clean looks. The offense had balance and bite.

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When a team can score from three levels without forcing, it travels. That matters in the East. Opponents will load up on Tatum and Brown. A live wire guard who punishes soft spots changes the math. Tonight, the math leaned green.

Where the Bulls fell short

Chicago had a plan to crowd the ball and win on toughness. The plan worked for a while. Then the rotations broke. The closeouts were late, and the second chance points stung. The Bulls also struggled to stack good possessions. One empty trip led to another, and Boston ran out after misses.

The half court spacing felt tight. When the ball stuck, Boston’s length swallowed drives. Chicago needed more pace and more paint touches. The Bulls also needed a spark from the arc. It never came in time to flip the game.

The feel and the stakes

This matchup still carries that old Eastern edge. Physical drives. Hard chases around screens. Shot makers who do not blink. You could sense Boston leaning into that identity. The Celtics stayed connected, trusted the simple read, and closed with control.

For Chicago, this is not a season breaker. It is a measuring stick. The Bulls saw what a layered offense looks like when the lead guard gets hot. They will see this team again, and they will be sharper. Expect tighter matchups on the perimeter and more paint pressure next time.

Boston will leave this one with a big check mark. It banked a January win and found a louder voice in its lineup. Anfernee Simons did not just score. He shaped the game, and that is the signal that will echo around the East. If this is the new normal, the Celtics just got harder to guard, and everyone felt it tonight.