The Chicago Bulls lost to the Boston Celtics 125-111, but even that score gives Chicago too much credit.

Boston poured in 78 first-half points and built a 30-point lead before the Bulls finally found some traction. Chicago won the second half and made a late push after the Celtics pulled their starters, but the competitive portion of this game ended much earlier.

After getting blown out in Boston on Monday, the Bulls had an opportunity to show they had learned something. Instead, they spent much of the rematch making the same mistakes.

Caleb Wilson refuses to let this team’s struggles take away his effort.

Even when the Bulls fall behind, Wilson keeps throwing his body at the rim and trying to give his teammates a reason to wake up. There is something encouraging about a rookie who continues to compete when the game gives him every excuse to coast.

His jumper showed up, too. Wilson knocked down six of his 11 attempts from beyond the arc and finished with 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal.

There were defensive mistakes to clean up, but his willingness to keep attacking remains a bright spot in a rough start to the season.

Tre Jones also gave Chicago solid minutes at backup point guard. He finished with 12 points, four assists and four steals, providing some much-needed activity on both ends.

Jalen Smith made his presence felt despite struggling with his shot. He grabbed 12 rebounds, blocked two shots and finished as a plus-three in a game the Bulls spent most of the night trailing by double digits.

Single-game plus-minus only tells part of the story, but Smith’s rebounding and rim protection continue to matter. He is finding ways to contribute even when his own offense isn’t there.

Matas Buzelis opened the game aggressively, then faded.

The early approach was encouraging. The problem was how little of it carried through the rest of the night. Chicago needs Buzelis to stay involved across all four quarters, whether that means attacking the basket, pursuing rebounds or creating something defensively.

He is too talented to disappear for long stretches, especially on a team still searching for consistent production from its young core.

Wilson’s first-half defense also deserves scrutiny.

Jayson Tatum repeatedly caught him on back cuts and beat him on drives, turning small mistakes into easy Boston baskets. Wilson improved after halftime, but those early lapses helped the Celtics establish control.

The activity is there. The next step is learning when to gamble for a steal or block and when to stay home. That should be a priority in the film room. His tools can make him disruptive, but discipline has to catch up with the effort.

Josh Giddey’s late production did little to change how poorly he played while this game was still within reach.

Chicago committed 13 turnovers in the first half, with four coming from its starting point guard. Several mistakes handed Boston opportunities to run the other way for easy points.

A young team is going to turn the ball over. Its veteran point guard needs to help settle things down when the game starts slipping away.

Giddey also offered little resistance defensively, allowing easy driving lanes and putting more pressure on the players behind him.

He is in his sixth season. The Bulls need him to turn his production into a consistent impact on the game. A respectable stat line built partly after the outcome is decided does little to address that concern.

Tiago Splitter deserves criticism here, too.

Boston has more talent. That was clear coming in. But after Monday’s blowout, Chicago needed to return with better preparation, sharper execution and some pride in how it competed.

Instead, the Celtics scored 78 points before halftime.

Splitter arrived after establishing a tough, demanding culture during his season in Portland. That standard has yet to show up consistently in Chicago. The Bulls can accept growing pains during a rebuild, but they still need a dependable level of effort and attention in order to maximize a developmental season.

The Bulls have two days off before facing the 76ers and LeBron James on Monday night.

For this team, progress will come through player development and sustained effort. Losses are going to happen. Giving up control of a game before halftime cannot become the routine.

Wilson keeps giving fans reasons to watch, but now Chicago needs more of the roster to match his energy and give that effort a chance to matter.