Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Scores 11 points in loss
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Pritchard ended with 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt), two rebounds and four assists in 28 minutes during Friday's 119-81 loss to New York in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
The NBA's Sixth Man of the Year, Pritchard had a terrific 2024-25 campaign for the Celtics. Across 80 regular-season contests, Pritchard averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. A larger role for Pritchard could be on the table in 2025-26 due to Jayson Tatum (Achilles) facing a lengthy rehab.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Notches 17 points
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Pritchard accumulated 17 points (6-17 FG, 5-14 3Pt), five rebounds, three assists and one steal over 39 minutes during Wednesday's 127-102 win over the Knicks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
This was Boston's first game without superstar Jayson Tatum (Achilles), and as evidenced by Pritchard's workload, the Celtics are clearly going to lean heavily on the point guard going forward. Plus, Kristaps Porzingis continues to battle an illness, meaning Pritchard could see heavy usage for the foreseeable future.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Scores 12 points in Game 4
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Pritchard supplied 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 2-2 FT) and one steal across 20 minutes during Monday's 121-113 loss to the Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Jayson Tatum wasn't able to return to Game 4 due to an apparent right lower-leg injury, and he is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday. The Celtics are using a very tight rotation in the playoffs, and if Tatum is forced to miss time, Pritchard would likely be the player to step into a featured role for Boston.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Leads Boston in scoring
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Pritchard ended Saturday's 115-93 win over New York in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals with 23 points (8-16 FG, 5-10 3Pt, 2-2 FT), four rebounds, two assists and one steal over 35 minutes.
Surprisingly, Pritchard led the Celtics in scoring, and his elite shooting ability was on full display Saturday. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year made 50 percent of his threes and delivered his best scoring output of the current postseason run. Pritchard has scored in double digits in five of his eight playoff showings to date.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Tallies 13 points in loss Wednesday
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Pritchard amassed 13 points (3-6 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 5-5 FT), three rebounds and one assist in 24 minutes during Monday's 108-105 overtime loss to New York in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Pritchard scored in double digits for the second straight game, albeit barely. All in all, it's been a quiet postseason for Pritchard, with him scoring more than 15 points only once. His role is to provide the team with a scoring punch off the bench, something he has failed to do for the most part. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday and will give Pritchard a chance to turn things around.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Fails to score despite victory
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Pritchard amassed zero points (0-2 FG, 0-2 3Pt), one rebound and two assists across 26 minutes during Sunday's 107-98 victory over Orlando in Game 4 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Pritchard was a non-factor yet again, failing to score for just the second time all season. Although Boston was still able to get the win, it is going to need more from Payton moving forward, should the Celtics hope to once again return to the top of the mountain. Game 5 is scheduled for Tuesday in Boston, where Pritchard will almost certainly be looking to make an impact.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Disappears in Game 3 loss
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Pritchard accumulated three points (1-2 FG, 1-2 FT), one rebound and two steals across 26 minutes during Friday's 95-93 loss to Orlando in Game 3 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Pritchard was invisible in the loss, turning in arguably his worst performance of the season. Fresh of being named Sixth Man of the Year, Pritchard was a non-factor as the Celtics allowed the Magic back into the series. Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday when Boston will be hoping to reassert their dominance.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Scores 14 points in win
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Pritchard closed with 14 points (5-11 FG, 3-6 3Pt, 1-3 FT), three rebounds and one steal across 33 minutes during Wednesday's 109-100 win over the Magic in Game 2 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Jayson Tatum missed this game with a wrist issue, and it was Pritchard and Al Horford who soaked up the majority of his minutes. He's been excellent to start the playoffs, averaging 16.5 points, 1.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 3.5 three-pointers in 29.0 minutes.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Pops for 19 points Sunday
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Pritchard accumulated 19 points (6-8 FG, 4-6 3Pt, 3-3 FT) and three assists across 25 minutes during Sunday's 103-86 win over Orlando in Game 1 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Pritchard played his role to perfection, helping the Celtics to a solid workmanlike victory. It's been a banner season for Pritchard, who was also named a finalist for the Sixth Man of the Year award Sunday. Look for Pritchard to have another productive outing when the two teams meet again Wednesday.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Won't start Game 1
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Pritchard will come off the bench during Sunday's Eastern Conference quarterfinal-round Game 1 matchup against the Magic, Justin Turpin of WEEI.com reports.
Pritchard is coming off an impressive regular-season finale performance for Boston in which he finished with 34 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and one block in the win over the Pelicans. However, the talented young guard will resume a bench role for Game 1 against Orlando on Sunday.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Shines with all-around showcase
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Pritchard ended Sunday's 93-86 victory over the Hornets with 34 points (14-25 FG, 4-12 3Pt, 2-2 FT), seven rebounds, seven assists and one steal across 38 minutes.
Pritchard got his second start in three games with Boston sitting its regular starters in Sunday's regular-season finale, putting on a show by leading all Celtics in scoring and assists while finishing second on the team in rebounds. Pritchard tallied his second-highest scoring total of the season while also recording his second outing with at least 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Starting Sunday
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Pritchard is in Boston's starting lineup against Charlotte on Sunday, Justin Turpin of WEEI.com reports.
Pritchard will make his second start in three games Sunday as the Celtics rest their top rotational players in the regular-season finale. Pritchard has averaged 14.2 points, 4.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds over 28.3 minutes per game over his last six outings.
Pritchard notched 22 points (9-11 FG, 4-5 3Pt), three rebounds, three assists and one steal across 22 minutes during Friday's 130-94 win over the Hornets.
Pritchard reverted to his sixth-man role Friday after starting in Wednesday's loss to the Magic. The fifth-year guard out of Oregon proceeded to lead both teams in scoring, and he's connected on at least four triples 34 times this season. With the Celtics locked in as the No. 2 seed in the East, Pritchard will likely have his playing time limited in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Hornets.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Not starting Friday
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Pritchard is not in the Celtics' starting lineup against the Hornets on Friday.
Pritchard made his second start of the season Wednesday against the Magic and registered his third double-double of the year in a loss. He'll return to his sixth-man role Friday with Jrue Holiday and Derrick White both back in the lineup. Pritchard has averaged 12.6 points, 5.0 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 0.8 rebounds over 29.6 minutes per game over his last five outings, though he's shot just 30.0 percent from three on 6.0 3PA/G over that span.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Will start vs. Orlando
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Pritchard will be in the starting lineup for the Celtics on Wednesday against the Magic, Cody Taylor of USA Today reports.
Pritchard will be in the first five for the second time this season, with Boston seemingly content resting players in Orlando. The last time the talented young guard was a starter, he finished with 16 points, five assists and four rebounds in a win against the Trail Blazers.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Ruled out against San Antonio
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Pritchard (hip) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Spurs, Taylor Snow of the Celtics' official site reports.
Pritchard is having a career with the Celtics this season, but he won't be on the floor Saturday in San Antonio due to left hip soreness. Sam Hauser and Baylor Scheierman will likely be the players leaned on in the backcourt against the Spurs due to Pritchard's absence.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Iffy for Saturday
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Pritchard is questionable for Saturday's game against the Spurs due to left hip flexor tightness, Taylor Snow of the Celtics' official site reports.
The hip issue is a new concern for Pritchard, who hasn't missed an outing since Feb. 4. If the sharpshooter is sidelined against San Antonio, Baylor Scheierman and Sam Hauser could receive an uptick in playing time off the bench. Pritchard has averaged 14.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.4 three-pointers and 3.4 assists across 31.6 minutes per contest over his last five outings (one start).
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Reverts back to bench Monday
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Pritchard won't start in Monday's game against the Kings.
The sharpshooter will retreat to the second unit due to Jrue Holiday returning to game action. Over his last five outings (one start), Pritchard has averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.2 steals across 31.6 minutes per game.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Starting Sunday
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Pritchard will start Sunday's game against Portland, Sean Grande of NBC Sports Boston reports.
With Jrue Holiday (shoulder), Jaylen Brown (knee) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) sidelined, Pritchard and Sam Hauser will slide into the starting lineup. This will be Pritchard's first start of the campaign, but he's played at least 30 minutes off the bench 30 times this season, averaging 18.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 0.9 steals in 33.4 minutes per game during those contests.
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Celtics' Payton Pritchard: Scores 18 points off bench
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Pritchard ended with 18 points (6-13 FG, 4-11 3Pt, 2-3 FT), two rebounds, four assists and one steal in 32 minutes during Friday's 121-99 victory over the Jazz.
Jaylen Brown (knee) missed Friday's game, and Pritchard joined Sam Hauser as the key backup talent to prop up the adjusted first unit. The Oregon product has posted four consecutive double-digit scoring performances after shooting only 26.9 percent from the floor over three games earlier in the month. Pritchard usually delivers when he sees over 30 minutes of court time, and it happens enough to warrant some fantasy consideration.
