NBA: Anfernee Simons drops 8 threes to help Celtics tame Bulls

Anfernee Simons made eight 3-pointers and scored a game-high 27 points to help the Boston Celtics extend their winning streak to four games with a 115-101 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls on Monday night.

Payton Pritchard contributed 21 points for Boston, while Neemias Queta added 13 points and 13 rebounds. Despite shooting just 40% from the field, the Celtics matched a season high with 20 offensive rebounds.

Matas Buzelis led the Bulls with 26 points. Nikola Vucevic recorded a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds, along with seven assists. Ayo Dosunmu (15 points) and Tre Jones (10 points) were the only other Chicago players to score in double figures.

Boston’s Jaylen Brown struggled from the floor, making just 6 of 24 shots, and finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, and four assists.

The Bulls, who had won their previous four road games, were missing point guard Josh Giddey (left hamstring strain) and center/forward Jalen Smith (concussion). Giddey, before his injury, was averaging a team-high 19.2 points per game.

Shooting guard Coby White returned after missing Chicago’s last three games due to a calf injury. White, who also began the night averaging 19.2 points per contest, posted five points and six rebounds in 25 minutes.

Chicago led 9-6 early, but Boston went on a 16-2 run to take a 22-11 lead with 3:51 remaining in the first quarter. The Celtics scored 25 of the final 30 points in the period, ending the quarter with a 31-14 advantage.

The Bulls struggled from beyond the arc, missing 19 of their first 21 3-point attempts, and trailed by as many as 23 points in the second quarter. A Pritchard 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Boston a 54-33 lead at halftime.

Chicago made a push in the third quarter, scoring 34 points after putting up 33 in the first half, but still trailed 85-67 entering the fourth. The Bulls closed the gap to 10 points after a Vucevic 3-pointer with 3:34 remaining, but could not get any closer.

—Field Level Media/Reuters