Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics Final Score & Over/Under Result — Jan 5, 2026

Boston's recent form had tilted sharply in its favor—a 119.3 points-per-game average over its last 10 contests against a Chicago squad surrendering 120.3 per night—yet the Celtics' defensive profile proved decisive in holding the Bulls well shy of the market. The combined 216 points landed 20.5 below the pregame total of 236.5, and DAGGER leaned under, and it cashed. The game told its story in the second half: the first 24 minutes produced just 87 combined points, a slow-burn opening that set the tone despite Chicago's third-quarter surge.

That surge arrived in Q3, when the two teams combined for 65 points—the game's highest-scoring quarter—lifting both sides past their opening sluggishness. Matas Buzelis paced Chicago with 26 points, while Nikola Vučević added 15 points and 15 rebounds to give the Bulls interior presence. Boston countered through Anfernee Simons, who dropped 27 points, and Payton Pritchard, who chipped in 21 points and 6 rebounds. Yet despite the fireworks late, Boston's 115-101 final margin reflected a team that never fully surrendered control. The second half's combined 129 points proved sufficient noise; the total remained anchored by a first half that refused to ignite.