BOSTON — For the primary 10 minutes of the Celtics’ playoff opener, Payton Pritchard sat on the bench.
Then, the Sixth Man of the 12 months finalist checked into the sport and nearly instantly tried a 3.
Swish.
In his first three minutes on the ground, Pritchard exploded for a fast 11 factors, momentarily turning into the Celtics’ main scorer.
By the point the ultimate buzzer sounded, he had single-handedly outscored the complete Magic bench, ending with 19 factors on 6-8 taking pictures.
In his 24 minutes on the ground, he in the end hit 4 of 6 threes and dished out 3 assists.
The offensive contributions had been notably essential within the Celtics’ 103-86 win over the Magic as a result of Boston’s three main scorers all considerably struggled offensively: Jayson Tatum completed with 17 factors on 8-22 FG, Jaylen Brown with 16 factors on 6-14 FG, and Kristaps Porzingis with 5 factors on 1-8 FG.
Nonetheless, what stood out most to Joe Mazzulla after the sport was Pritchard’s influence on the defensive finish.
“I believed he was simply nearly as good defensively as he was offensively,” Mazzulla stated, assessing his backup level guard’s efficiency within the playoff opener.
It’s not the primary time Mazzulla has made some extent to name out Pritchard’s protection — he’s routinely introduced up the 27-year-old’s defensive strides over the previous two seasons.
“The very best factor about Payton, that individuals don’t respect, is his protection and his tenacity,” Mazzulla stated final Spring. “Everyone knows he can rating. Everyone knows he can shoot. However his stage of defensive depth has been enormous for us.”
Payton Pritchard shouldn’t be recognized for his protection — however he aspires to be
When your perimeter defenders embrace Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, and Jaylen Brown, it’s troublesome for an undersized backup level guard to develop a lot of a defensive status.
Nonetheless, Pritchard instructed CelticsBlog final month that he’s working to grow to be a go-to defender on the Celtics.
“Individuals wish to say that generally — possibly not as a lot anymore — however that I was a defensive legal responsibility,” he stated. “However I really feel like that was possibly as a result of they appeared on the top, and possibly the colour of my pores and skin slightly bit. In order that they assume I’m a goal.”
At 6’1, Pritchard has an simple pure measurement drawback on the ground, notably when he’s switched onto bigger NBA wings, which opposing groups usually work to do. Regardless of his measurement, he’s discovered methods to be disruptive defensively all season, and Sunday afternoon in opposition to the Magic was no exception.
“His physicality on the level of assault was massive for us,” Mazzulla stated after the win. “And I feel he acquired two tip-out lead runs within the second half that had been massive for us. [He] simply made issues occur.”
Jrue Vacation praised Pritchard’s fast scoring outburst upon checking into the sport — however equally famous it was his protection that stood out most.
“Payton’s a gamer, as everyone right here sees,” Vacation stated. “Any alternative that he has to place the ball within the basket, he does it. However what makes him particular is what he does on the defensive finish — selecting up anyone full courtroom, simply being a dawg, hounding whoever’s in entrance of him.”
Requested Jrue Vacation about Payton Pritchard’s influence tonight:
“Payton being Payton.”
“Payton’s a gamer… any alternative that he has to place the ball within the basket, he does it.”
“However what makes him particular is what he does on the defensive finish.” pic.twitter.com/ydy2MqISN4
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) April 20, 2025
Pritchard usually picks up the participant he’s guarding earlier than halfcourt.
“I simply attempt to make issues robust,” Pritchard stated. “And I really feel like defensively, on ball, I feel I’m excellent. I can transfer my ft effectively, and take bumps, and I’m simply gonna maintain getting higher and higher and higher at it.”
Pritchard’s offensive influence continues to be simple
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley stated after the loss that he thought the staff did a very good job defending Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. However, he famous that Pritchard’s scoring was one of many massive difference-makers for the Celtics. (Along with Derrick White, who completed with a team-high 30 factors).
“For probably the most half, it was the Derrick Whites of the world, Payton Pritchard coming off the bench for 19,” Mosely stated. “Two guys you don’t actually account for arising with 49 factors. I feel we’ve acquired to do a greater job there.”
The fact is that each White and Pritchard have commonly produced like this all season; White completed the season because the Celtics’ all-time main in most threes made in a single season, whereas Pritchard shot 40.7% from past the arc this yr.
On this one, Pritchard had a number of notably well timed performs along with his 4 made threees. With the Celtics’ offense stalling early within the second quarter, he bailed out the Celtics by drawing a three-point foul on Wendell Carter Jr. on the shot clock buzzer.
Brown, who returned to the ground after lacking the final three video games of the common season with a knee damage, expressed no shock at Pritchard’s influence on each ends.
“That’s one other dawg,” Brown stated, including; “Payton, his mentality has been like that each one season lengthy. So when he will get within the recreation, it’s no totally different. At present was an instance of what he’s been doing all season lengthy.”
