My Bulls vs. Celtics prediction backs Over 233.5 points in a potential shootout as the fast-paced Bulls visit the Celtics for a 7:30 p.m. ET tip at TD Garden on Monday night.
The 1-2 Bulls will look to push the tempo against a 1-1 Celtics team that can score in bunches. I'm also backing Chicago to cover as massive road underdogs and expecting big nights from Caleb Wilson, Jayson Tatum, and Josh Giddey in my latest NBA picks for Monday, Oct. 26.
TOP PICK
Bulls vs Celtics prediction: Over 232.5
The Boston Celtics have given up 112 points per game and sit outside the top 20 in defensive rating through two contests.
The Chicago Bulls also rank in the bottom third in defensive rating, and they've surrendered the second-most points per game at a whopping 128. The Bulls rank second in pace and have consistently been among the NBA's fastest teams since 2024-25. They like to push the tempo, and they're scoring 114.7 points per game.
The Celtics' defense may not be the lockdown unit it was a season ago, and the Bulls' run-and-gun offense can take advantage through volume shooting and transition looks. Jayson Tatum and Paul George can have their way against the Bulls' lackluster defense, and this game could turn into a shootout. I'll trade the game total up to 236.5.
COVERS INTEL: The Bulls' starting lineup of Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Jalen Smith has shared the court for 13.2 minutes per game, scoring 33 points and surrendering a whopping 44 per game in that span. The 3.3 points per minute given up by the Bulls' defense is the most in the Association among lineups that have shared the court for at least 10 minutes per game.
Bulls vs Celtics combo
My Over 233.5 prediction anchors this three-leg combo, which carries a 6.15x multiplier and also backs the Bulls to cover +14.5 and Wilson to clear his points, rebounds, and assists total.
I'll trade the Bulls to cover down to +11.5. The Celtics should win this one at home, but that doesn't mean the Bulls won't keep the game within striking distance. After a blowout loss in the opener, the Bulls have been competitive across their last two games. The Celtics sit outside the top 20 in defensive rating, and there's no reason they should be favored by so many points.
Wilson's PRA line also looks too low, and I'm happy to trade it up to 27.5. The rookie finished with just 20 PRA in his debut, but he racked up 28 and 47 over his last two. Wilson comfortably leads the team in usage rate (28.7%) and field-goal attempts (19.7). He also ranks first in scoring (22.3) and is tied for the team lead in rebounds (8.0).
Bulls vs Celtics combo
- Over 232.5
- Bulls +14.5
- Caleb Wilson Over 24.5 points + rebounds + assists
Bulls vs Celtics player props
Bulls player prop: Josh Giddey Over 7.5 assists
Giddey is in a favorable situation Monday, and I'll trade this line up to 8.5. He averaged a career-best 9.1 assists in his second season with the Bulls in 2025-26, and he's averaged 8.3 across the first three games of the 2026-27 campaign.
The Bulls' floor general has handed out eight or more assists in 35 of his last 57 appearances, including a 10-assist performance against the Celtics last season.
The Celtics have given up the 12th-most assists (27.0 per game), and they've allowed opponents to hit 38.8% of their three-point shots. The Bulls rank fourth in three-point attempts (41.3 per game), giving Giddey plenty of opportunities to feed teammates on the perimeter and clear this assists line.
Celtics player prop: Jayson Tatum Over 44.5 points + rebounds + assists
I'll trade this PRA total at 44.5 up to 52%. In addition to allowing the second-most points (128.0), the Bulls have surrendered the eighth-most rebounds (47.7) and third-most assists (29.3) per game.
Tatum is averaging 24.5 points to go with 6.5 rebounds and nine assists, good for 40 PRA. He finished with 52 PRA in his last game against the Knicks, and he'll get a chance to shine in a pace-up spot at home against a bottom-of-the-barrel defense.
I expect him to exceed his season average by taking advantage of the Bulls' weak interior, which is missing defensive anchor Nic Claxton. The fast-paced environment should support more chances to score, rebound, and assist.
- Top picks: 2-3, -1.12 units
- Combos: 0-5, -5.00 units
Bulls vs Celtics odds
For help understanding probabilities, see our odds calculator.
- Spread: Bulls +14.5 (52%) | Celtics -14.5 (49%)
- Over/Under: Over 233.5 (48%) | Under 233.5 (53%)
- Moneyline: Bulls (14%) | Celtics (87%)
For the full slate of NBA matchups, check out our NBA odds board!
Bulls vs Celtics trend
The game total has gone Under in five of the last six head-to-head matchups. Find more NBA betting trends.
How to watch Bulls vs Celtics
| Location | TD Garden, Boston, Mass. |
| Date | Monday, Oct. 26, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | CHSN, NBCS-Boston |
Bulls vs Celtics latest injuries
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