Chicago Bulls @ 
Boston CelticsJaylen Brown Is Playing Like An MVP
Here's the thing about Jaylen Brown right now: he's not just filling in for Jayson Tatum. He's absolutely thriving without him. The man just hung 50 points on the Clippers Saturday night in a 146-115 demolition. That's not a typo. Fifty. Points. And he made it look easy, shooting 18-of-26 from the field and 6-of-10 from three.
What we're witnessing in Boston is the emergence of Jaylen Brown as a legitimate MVP candidate. He's averaging 30.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game this season - career highs across the board. For the first time in his career, Brown is averaging more points per game than Tatum ever has. That 30.09 average slightly tops Tatum's career-best of 30.06 from 2022-23. Let that sink in.
The Celtics are 22-12 and just 0.5 games behind the Knicks for the #2 seed in the East. They went 9-3 in December despite missing their best player to a season-ending Achilles tear. Brown has put this team on his back, and tonight he gets a shorthanded Bulls squad that's missing half their roster. This could get ugly.
Since December 2nd, Brown has averaged 32.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists over 36 minutes per game. He's on a nine-game streak of scoring 30+ points, which ties the franchise record set by Larry Bird during the 1984-85 season. We're talking about Jaylen Brown being mentioned in the same breath as Larry Legend. That's where we are right now.
The Bulls Are Decimated
Look, I don't want to be harsh, but Chicago is in trouble tonight. Their entire starting backcourt is out. Josh Giddey is sidelined with a strained left hamstring and won't be re-evaluated until January 13th. He was in the middle of a career year too - averaging 19.2 points, 9.0 assists, and 8.9 rebounds before going down.
Coby White is dealing with right calf tightness and has missed the last three games. He's scheduled for re-evaluation on January 6th, which means he's definitely sitting tonight. To make matters worse, Jalen Smith is in concussion protocol after a collision with LaMelo Ball on Saturday. That's three key rotation players out against one of the hottest teams in basketball.
Without Giddey and White, Billy Donovan is rolling with Tre Jones and Ayo Dosunmu as his primary backcourt options. That's a massive downgrade against a Boston team that ranks among the league leaders in three-point shooting and defensive efficiency. The Bulls have somehow won four straight on the road despite these absences, but they dropped a 112-99 game to Charlotte at home Saturday. They shot an abysmal 11-of-41 from three in that loss.
The schedule doesn't get easier either. Chicago has eight games over the next two weeks, including two back-to-back sets. They're walking into TD Garden tonight undermanned and facing a team that just put up 146 points. This is a brutal spot.
Boston's Supporting Cast Is Stepping Up
It's not just Jaylen Brown carrying this team. The Celtics have gotten major contributions from their role players all season. Derrick White is averaging 18.7 points per game and has been phenomenal as the secondary playmaker. His three-point shooting and defensive intensity have been crucial with Tatum out.
Payton Pritchard is putting up 16.8 points per game off the bench, and he's been arguably the best sixth man in the NBA this season. His ability to come in and immediately provide scoring punch has allowed Boston to maintain their pace even when Brown sits. The depth on this roster is legitimate, even without their franchise player.
Coach Joe Mazzulla has done a masterful job adjusting the offense. After Brown's 50-piece Saturday, Mazzulla said: "I thought his defense was tremendous from start to end, and I thought that was one of the most complete games that I have seen him play." The system is working. The players are buying in. And Brown is playing the best basketball of his life.
Boston's net rating with Brown on the floor has been elite. They're outscoring opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions this season, which is among the best marks in the league. When this team gets rolling offensively, they're nearly impossible to stop. Saturday's 146-point explosion was proof of that.
The Player Matchup
Chicago Bulls (17-18)Boston Celtics (22-12)The talent gap here is significant. Jaylen Brown is playing at an MVP level while the Bulls' best player, Nikola Vucevic, is a solid veteran center having a good season but nowhere near an All-NBA caliber. Chicago's youth movement with Matas Buzelis has been encouraging, but asking a rookie to match up with Boston's championship-caliber roster is a tall order.
The Bulls have been scrappy. They've won four straight on the road and are 7-3 in their last 10 games overall. But that's fool's gold against this Celtics team. Boston has won three straight, including that demolition of the Clippers, and they're playing at home where they've been dominant all season. TD Garden is a tough place to play.
Injury Report
Josh Giddey (G) - OUT: Left hamstring strain. Re-evaluation scheduled for January 13th. Was averaging career-highs across the board before injury.
Coby White (G) - OUT: Right calf tightness. Has missed the last three games. Re-evaluation January 6th. Missed preseason and first 11 games with same issue.
Jalen Smith (PF) - OUT: Concussion protocol after collision with LaMelo Ball on Saturday. Likely to miss extended time.
Zach Collins (C) - OUT: Sprained toe. Missed Saturday's game.
Jayson Tatum (F) - OUT FOR SEASON: Ruptured right Achilles tendon. Surgery completed. The franchise star's absence has forced Jaylen Brown to elevate his game.
Al Horford (C) - DAY TO DAY: Back soreness. The veteran big man has been managing his workload all season.
Key Betting Trends
Bulls: 17-17-1 ATS this season. 7-3 ATS in last 10 games. Total has gone UNDER in 5 of Chicago's last 7 games. 4-0 road winning streak.
Celtics: 20-14 ATS this season. 6-4 ATS in last 10 games. 7-3 SU in last 10. Won 3 straight. The Celtics are 8-2 vs Bulls in last 10 meetings.
Head-to-Head: Chicago is 2-5 ATS in last 7 games against Boston. Bulls are 1-7 SU in last 8 games against the Celtics. Total has gone UNDER in 6 of Boston's last 7 games vs Central Division teams.
Spread History: The -11.5 line hasn't been covered by Celtics in 6 of their last 10 games against the Bulls. Double-digit spreads are always tricky.
Situational Analysis
The 11.5-point spread is interesting. On one hand, Boston is playing elite basketball and just dropped 146 points on the Clippers. On the other hand, double-digit spreads in the NBA are notoriously difficult to cover. The Celtics haven't covered -11.5 against the Bulls in 6 of their last 10 meetings.
But here's what's different now: the Bulls are significantly more injured than usual. They're missing their starting backcourt plus Jalen Smith. That's a lot of production to replace, and they're going up against a team firing on all cylinders. Brown just tied a career high with 50 points and looks unstoppable.
The total of 234.5 feels high given that Boston's unders have been hitting lately. The Celtics have seen the under connect in 6 of their last 7 games against Central Division opponents. Chicago's pace has slowed without Giddey running the show, and their 11-of-41 three-point shooting Saturday suggests they're struggling offensively.
Home court matters too. TD Garden has been a fortress for the Celtics this season. The crowd gets into it, especially after Brown's recent stretch of dominance. Boston's energy at home has been palpable, and they're likely to jump on a shorthanded Bulls team early.
Keys To Victory
For Chicago to cover: They need Nikola Vucevic to dominate inside. If Vooch can get 20+ points and 12+ rebounds while controlling the paint, it keeps the game closer than expected. Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones need to limit turnovers and keep the pace slow. Chicago's best chance is making this an ugly, grind-it-out game where possessions are precious. If the Celtics get out in transition, it's over.
For Boston to cover: Push the pace and let Jaylen Brown cook. If Boston can get out in transition and force Chicago into a track meet, the talent advantage shows up quickly. The Celtics need to defend the three-point line - the Bulls live and die by their outside shooting when healthy. With their backcourt depleted, Chicago will likely jack up more threes than usual. Boston needs to contest every shot and crash the boards.
Final Thoughts
This feels like a game where Boston should win comfortably, but the 11.5-point spread gives me pause. Double-digit spreads in the NBA are coin flips more often than not. The Bulls have been scrappy all season and have shown they can compete even with their injury issues.
That said, the talent disparity is massive. Jaylen Brown is playing MVP-caliber basketball and just dropped 50 on the Clippers. The supporting cast is clicking. And Chicago is missing half their rotation. This is exactly the kind of game where Boston could put up 130+ again.
The total is the more interesting play here. Both teams' recent trends point toward the under, and Chicago's offensive struggles without their backcourt could limit scoring opportunities. The Celtics are good enough defensively to force turnovers and get stops when they need to.
This is Jaylen Brown's team now. He's playing the best basketball of his life, and he's got a perfect opportunity to showcase it against an undermanned Bulls squad on national television. Expect another dominant performance from the man who's making Boston forget about Jayson Tatum - at least for this season.
