On paper, Monday night at TD Garden looks like a mismatch. A 56-win Celtics team against a Bulls team that is starting over. But in the NBA, the early weeks of a new season are when "on paper" gets tested the most, especially when both rosters look very different than they did a year ago.
The Chicago Bulls visit the Boston Celtics on Monday, October 26, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m. ET. Both teams are still figuring out who they are, just in very different ways.
Boston: Familiar Faces, Big Changes
The Celtics won 56 games last season and finished first in the Atlantic Division, but their season ended in heartbreak. Boston blew a 3-1 series lead against Philadelphia in the first round.
Then came the offseason shake-up. Jaylen Brown, fresh off a career-best 28.7 points per game, was traded to Philadelphia on July 1 in exchange for Paul George and a package of future draft picks. It was a stunning move for a franchise that had built its identity around Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Tatum, meanwhile, enters the year healthy after returning from a ruptured Achilles that kept him out for the first 62 games last season. This is the first time in a while that he's had a full, normal offseason to prepare. Boston also retooled its frontcourt, with Mitchell Robinson taking over at center after Nikola Vucevic's departure.
Oddsmakers still like this team. Boston's season win total was set around 51.5, with championship odds of +1300.
Chicago: A Fresh Start Under a New Coach
The Bulls are in a different place. They went 31-51 last season, their worst record since 2020, finished 12th in the East, and made a league-high seven trades at the deadline, sending out Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Nikola Vucevic.
Now there's a new head coach in Tiago Splitter and a new basketball boss in Bryson Graham. The roster is built around:
- Josh Giddey, the central figure on the roster
- Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 overall pick out of North Carolina, who projects as an immediate starter
- Norman Powell and Nic Claxton, both signed in free agency
- Dailyn Swain, the No. 15 pick, competing for rotation minutes
Chicago's season win total sits at 28.5, one of the lowest in the East, so expectations are modest. That can be freeing for a young team with a new coach and nothing to lose.
What to Watch
- The Tatum-and-George pairing. How quickly does Boston's new star duo find its rhythm?
- Wilson's first big stage. How does the No. 4 pick handle a primetime road game in Boston?
- Chemistry vs. talent. Early in the year, teams with new coaches and new rosters can be inconsistent, and that applies to both sides.
- Frontcourt battles. Mitchell Robinson against Nic Claxton is one of the more interesting interior matchups.
Why This Game Could Be Tougher Than It Looks
Boston has the better roster and the home court, and the market will treat it that way. But early-season games between teams still learning their rotations can be unpredictable, and a Bulls team with a new coach and a lot of young talent has a chance to play loose.
We ran the numbers and landed on a pick we feel good about, complete with the moneyline, expected value, and edge that our subscribers see before tip-off.
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This preview is based on information available before the game. Lineups, injuries, and odds can shift, so always double-check the numbers before you bet. Sports predictions aren't guarantees, and betting carries risk.