This time, the champion needed a little something extra. After three first games spent playing their basketball, the Celtics were entitled to a first real fight for half an hour on Monday against Milwaukee.
The difference came largely from the delivery of Payton Pritchardonce again present in the moments that matter. Coming off the bench, Jrue Holiday's understudy carried Boston, who delighted in his devilish skill all evening.
However, the story is now known. Who says end of quarter and ball to the Celtics, says ball in the hands of Payton Pritchard and a potential miracle. “ This morning I circled his name » assured Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers. There are 6.5 seconds left at the end of the third quarter and Boston has just started a first real series in this game, thanks in particular to Derrick White. Jayson Tatum asks no questions and puts it back into play on Payton Pritchard, who has to cross the entire field to hope to score. He goes up to the 3-point line, shifts his support to give himself space in front of Delon Wright. Twine, four tenths from the end of the period. And Boston takes an eight-point lead, its biggest gap of the meeting.
“ What happened? Payton Pritchard. Payton Pritchard, this is what happened » replied, a little disappointed, Doc Rivers at a press conference. “ This guy changes a game when he comes on. »
A new prayer to the mermaid
Patyon Pritchard's match boils down to much more than just a shot almost at the siren. He was the spark that was missing in Boston's game from the start of the game. “ He kept us in the match in the first half » insisted Joe Mazzulla.
If the reigning champion was able to return to the locker room in contact without having the slightest holder at ten points or more (at 12/31 shooting), it is because the 26-year-old player had caught fire as soon as he arrived on the field. parquet.
In the logic of his start to the season in the form of a rise in power, from 3 points to an inglorious 1/10 against New York to 15 then 19 points for the Wizards and the Pistons, each time with five long-distance shots scored. Up to 28 points at 10/14 shooting including 8/12 from afar against the Bucks. “ We talked about it before the match started, that we couldn't let him come in and have that kind of impact on the match » lamented Damian Lillard. “ But he came back and he had this kind of impact on the match… » « He just plays hard, he's a tough little guy » summarizes Doc Rivers. “ He is this little pest who gets into your head, who attacks you all the time, who has guts and intelligence. But he is also talented. And he has one hell of a shot… »
A record in Celtics history
Payton Pritchard resumed his Milwaukee demolition business in the big passage of his team at the end of the third quarter, then at the start of the fourth. With the highlight being this shoot which made the TD Garden jump. “ It's a punch in the gut when you take those shots » described one of the heroes of the evening. “ I play for these moments. The seconds tick by, you just have to find your position and trigger. It's like I don't think about anything and just let the shoot go. And obviously this works very often for me. »
“ What he does speaks for himself, he's a murderer » smiles Jaylen Brown, another big player in the C's victory with his 30 points. “ He always looks to put pressure on the defense. We just played through him tonight. And we love it. »
Not content with having already put Milwaukee groggy, Payton Pritchard completed the Bucks with two new 3-point shots in the fourth quarter to twice pass the ten-point lead.
His eight long-range shots give him a record in Celtics history, tying Eddie House with the most number of field goals by a substitute. The champion remains at 100% victories and definitely has resources.
| Payton Pritchard | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 66 | 19 | 44.0 | 41.1 | 88.9 | 0.5 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 7.7 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 71 | 14 | 42.9 | 41.2 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 6.2 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 48 | 13 | 41.2 | 36.4 | 75.0 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 5.6 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 82 | 22 | 46.8 | 38.5 | 82.1 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 9.6 |
| 2024-25 | BOS | 3 | 24 | 37.9 | 42.3 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 12.3 |
| Total | 270 | 18 | 44.3 | 39.5 | 86.6 | 0.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 7.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
