Sitting at 24 factors, 11 rebounds and 9 assists getting into the fourth quarter Sunday, Payton Pritchard was tantalizingly near notching his first profession triple-double.
Pritchard knew it. The Celtics on the bench knew it. Everybody inside TD Backyard knew it. His teammates didn’t assist the trigger, lacking a number of photographs as followers groaned in disappointment.
Ultimately, with 7:54 left, Pritchard discovered JD Davison, who calmly drilled a top-of-the-key 3 to clinch the milestone for his teammate. Pritchard’s 30-point, 14-rebound, 11-assist efficiency powered the Celtics to a 120-114 win.
He joins Larry Chook and John Havlicek as the one gamers in franchise historical past to hit these marks.
Mike Muscala added 27 factors and eight rebounds and Sam Hauser 26. Boston finishes the common season 57-25 – its most wins since 2008-09 – and prepares for the primary spherical, the place it would face both the Warmth or Hawks.
Derrick White obtained the beginning Sunday, to finish his excellent run of 82 video games this season, however performed simply 5 minutes. With no Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, Marcus Sensible or Malcolm Brogdon, it was largely a day for the Celtics reserves to showcase their expertise. They didn’t squander it.
Pritchard poured in 18 first-half factors, hitting six of his 13 3’s and in addition including 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Hauser scored 12 factors, on 4 3’s, and chipped in 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Within the first half alone, the Celtics tried 30 3’s as a workforce and made 13.
Late within the second quarter, Vince Carter – sorry, Hauser – tried to maintain his dunk streak going. He missed, corralled his personal rebound and located Pritchard for 3 to cease a 7-0 Atlanta run. Basic math.
The Hawks shot 51 % to construct a 64-61 halftime benefit, however the Celtics hung round due to their regular taking pictures. Davison attacked the basket, Luke Kornet confirmed his versatility (his bag is rising by the day) and Justin Champagnie displayed his potential in an prolonged run.
Hauser splashed three 3’s within the first 1:28 of the second half to place the Celtics forward, 70-64. Mike Muscala caught fireplace from there, erupting for 18 factors within the third quarter alone. Boston outscored Atlanta, 39-26, within the quarter, taking a 100-90 lead into the fourth.
The Celtics continued to rain 3’s within the fourth. Hauser buried a deep one to increase the margin to 115-103 with 3:39 left, and the Hawks ran out of time.
