The Celtics scored three extra points in the final seconds of their win over the Bulls after Joe Mazzulla's timeout. Read more on Boston.com.

I like it because this tournament and the point differential kind of eliminates the unwritten rules that you’re supposed to follow or not follow,” Mazzulla told reporters of the NBA Cup rules. “Where in a normal situation,

The Celtics played to the final buzzer in the Bulls win because of the NBA Cup, and Joe Mazzulla has a good reason for liking the rules.

Payton Pritchard scored 19 of his season-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to help Boston rally for a 138-129 win in Chicago. It was Boston’s seventh straight win and pulls them within a game of Cleveland for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. It also keeps the Celtics in contention for a wild-card spot in the NBA Cup.

Pritchard scored 19 of his 29 points in the first 6:35 of the fourth quarter. Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 35 points and pulled down 14 rebounds. Both players connected for seven 3-pointers.

W hen the Boston Celtics media hype machine began the season suggesting that backup Boston point guard Payton Pritchard could be a serious candidate to win the NBA's 2025 Sixth Ma