In a match where the Celtics opted to give their main players a rest, Payton Pritchard emerged as the standout performer.
Usually accustomed to a significant role off the bench, Pritchard was given the starting position and played for 30 minutes in the initial three quarters before sitting out the final one. He took charge of the Celtics’ offense and achieved a personal best of 31 points, adding 11 assists to his impressive performance.
Remarkably, this might not even be the most notable achievement for him this weekend.
This is because Pritchard is on the verge of participating in every single game of the season. With no lingering injuries holding him back, he is likely to achieve this milestone. If he does, he will be the sole Boston player to feature in every game and one of only six NBA players this season to maintain 100 percent availability.
“It’s a significant accomplishment for me,” Pritchard remarked. “Playing 82 games is demanding, considering the work I put in during the summer to prepare my body for it. But it’s also about my personal journey, reflecting on last year and my second year, when there were times I didn’t play at all, and how frustrating and painful that was. However, it motivated me to keep pushing forward. To play 82 games this year, to be part of the top team in the NBA, and to strive for something extraordinary, it’s definitely gratifying.”
Pritchard’s consistency throughout the season has been evident as he settled into a defined role as the seventh option in the Celtics’ rotation. Following the game, Pritchard acknowledged how this consistency aided his improvement and made him a more valuable asset for Boston.
“Having a consistent role for the entire season is incredibly beneficial,” remarked Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla. “I believe this is the first time he’s experienced that, where he knows exactly when and where he’s playing every single night, and what he’s capable of.”
Pritchard admitted that he is still working on enhancing his playmaking skills and becoming a more well-rounded point guard in terms of distributing the ball. However, with 11 assists in total and five in the first quarter alone, it’s evident that he has made strides in that aspect.
Pritchard played a pivotal role in guiding Boston to a convincing 131-98 victory in a matchup between teams with no playoff implications. It appears likely that he will start again for the Celtics’ final regular-season game—also game 82—against the Wizards on Sunday.
