The Celtics didn't win their group, but can still make the knockout stage of the NBA Cup under the right circumstances.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) drives to the basket abasing Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, right, during the second half of an Emirates NBA Cup basketball game, Friday Nov. 29, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez) AP

Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta are all 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Group C standings. Cleveland is 1-1 and Washington is 0-3. The Bulls will be the Group C champion if they beat the Celtics and the Hawks beat the Cavaliers. Chicago owns the tiebreaker over Atlanta based on its head-to-head victory.

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.

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

Payton Pritchard leads the Celtics' charge in the fourth quarter with 19 points as Boston wins on the road.