Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (right) goes up for a layup in the second quarter.
Celtics guard Anfernee Simons (right) goes up for a layup in the second quarter.Matt Marton/Associated Press
CHICAGO — On Friday night, the Celtics escaped in a double-overtime win against the Nets thanks to some precise and timely 3-point shooting. On Saturday, they were the ones that were flattened by a 3-pointer that capped the Bulls’ nightlong barrage.
With the score tied, Kevin Huerter drilled a 3-pointer from the left corner with 0.2 seconds remaining, sending Chicago to a 114-111 win on the night Derrick Rose’s jersey was retired during a postgame ceremony.
The Bulls shot 50.6 percent from the field and made 21 of 45 3-pointers in the game. Jaylen Brown had 33 points and 8 rebounds to lead Boston, and he shrugged off a tough final few minutes by tying the score at 111. But Chicago had the final say.
Neither team held a double-digit lead in the game, with mild runs by each side smothered before they could become damaging.
The Bulls led, 111-107, when Brown was whistled for an offensive foul with 3:02 remaining. He spun through the lane for a layup as he was fouled with 2:23 left but missed the ensuing free throw. And on Boston’s next possession he had the ball stripped away. Then with 40 seconds left, Brown spun and left a shot short inside.
Time and again, though, the Bulls were unable to capitalize. Their best chance to extend the lead came with 20 seconds left, when Coby White missed a layup and Jalen Smith’s putback dunk attempt rattled in and out.
This time, Brown would not be stopped, as he raced upcourt for a layup that tied the score at 111 with 14.2 seconds to play.
With everyone standing and cellphones recording, Josh Giddey ran the clock down before finding Coby White, who swung a pass to Huerter in the left corner, and his 3-pointer was true.
Amari Williams, the improbable star in the second overtime of Boston’s win over the Nets on Friday, earned his first career start Saturday. Neemias Queta had been listed as probable due to an illness, and when Luka Garza was the first big man off the bench, it appeared that Queta might simply be an emergency option.
But when Garza tweaked his ankle, Queta checked in. And even though Garza later returned, Queta played 12 first-half minutes, a team-high among the three centers.
After playing 45 minutes and registering a triple-double on 9 of 27 shooting in the Nets game, Brown said that hamstring tightness had reduced his usual burst and kept him from exploiting matchups against Brooklyn’s slower big men.
The injury, the heavy workload, and the quick turnaround made it appear unlikely that Brown would suit up Saturday. But he was active, and once the game began there were no signs of limitation.
Brown had little trouble getting to his spots for his signature mid-range pull-ups and poured in a game-high 20 first-half points. He started the game by hitting a 3-pointer but did the rest of his damage inside the arc, where he was 7 for 10 from the field.
The Bulls, meanwhile, opened the game by spraying 3-pointers from all angles. Twelve of their first 15 shots came from long range, and they connected on six. But Chicago closed the half by hitting 3 of 10.
After a slow start, Anfernee Simons provided a second-quarter spark for Boston. His 3-pointer and driving layup gave the Celtics a 37-36 lead. Brown later extended the advantage with a 3-point play and a 15-footer that made it 53-48.
Neither team held a double-digit lead during the opening half, but the Celtics probably felt encouraged by their 58-52 edge at the break after making just 7 of 24 3-point shots. Despite finishing up a grueling section of the schedule, they were the team that was quicker to loose balls and made the important hustle plays that coach Joe Mazzulla values so highly.
But the Bulls started the third quarter with a 7-0 burst and mostly maintained that momentum during the period thanks to some scorching shot-making. White drained 3 of 4 3-pointers and Chicago shot 70 percent from the field as a team, helping it take an 88-85 lead to the fourth.
The Bulls led, 96-91, when White sparked a mild rally with a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws before finding a cutting Jordan Walsh for a layup that put Boston in front, 100-99, with 7:23 left.
Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at adam.himmelsbach@globe.com. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.