How many times can Payton Pritchard cash in for the Celtics?
The Boston guard is a true specialist when it comes to sinking buzzer-beaters. His crowing heave came to close out the first half of the clinching Game 5 of the 2024 NBA Finals as the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks.
Pritchard stepped up against the clock again on Monday night, draining a three-pointer to end the third quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks and former Celtics head coach Doc Rivers, who had a priceless reaction to the shot.
Rivers is well aware of what Pritchard, who scored 28 points for the Celtics on Monday, can spark for Boston and game planned for him. Pritchard still beat the Bucks to the punch.
Story continues below advertisement
“Payton Pritchard happened,” Rivers told reporters postgame, per WEEI’s Justin Turpin. “This morning, I literally circled his name. It’s like, this guy comes in and he’s a game changer. … He got their three ball going. … I thought that changed the game.”
Boston’s guard gave another sparkplug-type performance on Monday night that helped push the Celtics to 4-0 on the season with a fast start to their title defense.
Pritchard and the Celtics return to action on Wednesday night in Indiana against the Pacers.
Featured image via Paul Rutherford/Imagn Images
