Our Bulls vs Celtics prediction starts with a lopsided number. Boston is a 14-point home favorite over Chicago at TD Garden on Monday night, with the total sitting at 233. The Bulls arrive shorthanded and on short rest, while the Celtics are still finding their footing after trading Jaylen Brown. However, a clash between one of the league’s fastest teams and one of its slowest makes this more than a simple talent gap. Below, we break down the injury picture, the pace battle and the market before landing on two picks.
Last Updated: October 26, 2026
Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics — Game Info
| Where | TD Garden, Boston MA |
| When | October 26 – 7:30 PM ET |
| TV | NBC Sports Boston, Chicago Sports Network |
Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics Betting Preview
Availability shapes this game first. Chicago starting center Nic Claxton is out with a hamstring injury. Forwards Patrick Williams is questionable with a groin injury, and Noa Essengue is questionable with a head contusion. Both sat out Saturday’s loss to Washington. Any read on Chicago is therefore provisional until those two statuses are settled near tip-off. For Boston, guard Devin Carter remains out with an illness.
The schedule adds to Chicago’s burden. The Bulls played three games in four nights, including a back-to-back on Friday and Saturday, before Sunday’s day off. They are 1-2 after a 43-point loss at Toronto, a 132-125 win at Milwaukee and a 124-120 home loss to Washington. In contrast, Boston has had two days off since Friday’s 107-103 win over the Knicks. Still, the Celtics host Brooklyn on Tuesday, so this is the front end of a back-to-back.
Boston looks different this season. Jaylen Brown was traded to Philadelphia, and Paul George scored 38 points in his Celtics debut at Detroit. That night still ended in a 121-113 loss after Boston blew a 22-point lead. Jayson Tatum then scored 36 against the Knicks in his first full season since tearing his Achilles tendon in May 2025.
Chicago’s bright spot is rookie Caleb Wilson. The No. 4 pick is averaging 22.3 points and posted 30 points and 14 rebounds against Washington. Meanwhile, the Bulls’ shooting has been brutal at 28-for-124 from three, or 22.6%. They are also giving the ball away 17.7 times per game.
The efficiency numbers frame the matchup. Chicago owns a 106.5 offensive rating and a 118.9 defensive rating, according to Basketball Reference team data. Boston sits at 115.7 on offense and 117.8 on defense. The bigger gap is tempo. Chicago is playing at a pace of 107.6, while Boston sits at 95.1. Boston won last season’s series 2-1 and has taken eight of the last ten meetings.
Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls | +14.0 (-110) | +500 | O 233.0 (-110) |
| Celtics | -14.0 (-110) | -750 | U 233.0 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of October 26, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NBA Odds – Futures – Props
Chicago Bulls vs. Boston Celtics — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Bulls | 60% | 40% | Celtics |
See the latest NBA Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Bulls vs. Celtics Prediction — Who Sets the Tempo When a 107.6 Pace Meets 95.1?
Boston is priced as a heavy favorite in a game it wants to play slowly. Fewer possessions mean fewer chances for a talent gap to compound. If this game lands closer to Boston’s tempo than Chicago’s, the expected margin shrinks with it. Blending the two teams’ ratings at a middle pace projects a Celtics margin in the single digits, not a rout. Early-season ratings are noisy, so that projection is a starting point rather than a verdict. However, Boston has not yet shown the dominance this price assumes. The Celtics lost by eight in Detroit and beat a winless Knicks team by four.
The situational spot adds a second layer. Boston plays again Tuesday, so a big lead likely sends the starters to the bench early. That opens the door for a late Chicago run against reserves. Chicago’s shooting should also improve. The Bulls keep firing more than 41 threes per game, and attempt rate holds up far better than a 22.6% clip. Meanwhile, the spread has drifted a half-point toward Chicago since the open. Around 60% of spread tickets are on the Bulls, so that move follows the public and carries little signal. The standard price implies a 52.4% break-even, and the read only needs to clear that.
The case against is real. Chicago lost by 43 in Toronto and has allowed at least 124 points in every game. The Bulls are also on short rest without Claxton, and two more forwards are uncertain. If Williams and Essengue both sit, the rotation thins further and this read weakens. Treat it as a lean, provisional on those designations.
The Pick: Bulls +14.0 (-110)
Bulls vs. Celtics Prediction — How Thin Is Chicago’s Frontcourt Without Claxton?
Chicago’s defense is the softest part of this matchup. A 118.9 defensive rating sits 23rd in the league, and the absences hit the forward spots hardest. That matters for the Celtics’ second scoring option. George is averaging 26.5 points through two games, built on 38 in Detroit and 15 against New York. Tatum has handled more of the playmaking, with 11 assists in Detroit, which frees George to hunt shots against a scrambling defense. A competitive game keeps him on the floor late, so this read shares an input with the first pick. If Boston runs away early, his minutes shrink. The price asks for a 54.5% hit rate, and the uneven scoring split shows the risk.
There is a case against, too. Boston spreads its scoring around, and Derrick White and Payton Pritchard each scored 17 in Detroit. Tatum’s 36-point night against New York also came while George settled for 15. The Celtics’ slow pace caps the number of shots available to everyone. Still, Chicago has allowed at least 124 points in every game so far. That leakage should leave enough volume for George to clear a modest mark, even in a game played at Boston’s speed.
The Pick: Paul George To Score 20+ Points (-120)
Our Final Word on Bulls vs. Celtics
This game hinges on tempo and availability. Boston has the better roster, but a slow pace and a back-to-back on deck give a big spread room to break. Chicago’s prior game is covered in our Wizards vs Bulls prediction, and our guide on how to read NBA lines explains why a half-point move with the public says little. Check the Bulls’ injury report before tip-off, since both picks lean on a competitive game.
We like the Bulls +14.0 at -110 because Boston’s slow pace and Tuesday back-to-back should keep the margin inside the number. We also back Paul George To Score 20+ Points at -120 because Chicago’s 118.9 defensive rating leaves room for Boston’s second star to score.
NBA Bulls vs. Celtics FAQ: October 26, 2026
What time does the Bulls vs. Celtics game start?
The Bulls and Celtics tip off at 7:30 PM ET on Monday, October 26, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. It is Boston’s third game of the season and Chicago’s fourth. The Celtics enter on two days of rest, while the Bulls had Sunday off after playing three games in four nights.
What channel is the Bulls vs. Celtics game on?
The game airs on NBC Sports Boston in the Celtics’ market and on Chicago Sports Network in the Bulls’ market. Both are regional broadcasts aimed at their home audiences, so whether you can watch on television depends on where you live and which provider carries those networks in your area.
Is Nic Claxton playing tonight?
No, Nic Claxton is out for the Bulls on Monday with a hamstring injury. Jalen Smith is expected to start at center in his place. Chicago’s forward depth is also uncertain, with Patrick Williams and Noa Essengue both listed as questionable after missing Saturday’s loss to Washington.
Who won the last meeting between the Bulls and Celtics?
Boston won the last meeting 124-105 on February 11, 2026, at TD Garden. That victory gave the Celtics a 2-1 edge in last season’s series, with Chicago’s only win coming 114-111 at home on January 24. Boston has won eight of the last ten meetings between the two teams.
What are the Bulls’ and Celtics’ records this season?
The Celtics are 1-1 and the Bulls are 1-2 entering Monday’s game. Boston lost 121-113 at Detroit before beating the Knicks 107-103. Chicago lost 135-92 at Toronto, won 132-125 at Milwaukee and then fell 124-120 at home to Washington in its home opener.