Celtics quick to make next move after Simons trade

The Celtics extended their current winning streak to three games on Monday with a 110-100 victory over the Mavericks.

Here's what stood out:

Payton Pritchard still has it

Once the reports surfaced that the Celtics had traded Anfernee Simons for Nikola Vucevic, questions immediately arose regarding what they’d do for a bench ball-handler. Payton Pritchard and Derrick White had started all season, with Simons checking in behind them.

Celtics fans didn’t have to wait long for their answer.

Pritchard moved back to a bench role in the team’s first game without Simons and looked like he never left it (in the best way possible). He checked in with 6:24 remaining in the first quarter and got to work. By the time the buzzer sounded, he’d already poured in eight points on a crisp 4-5 shooting, including this last-second bucket.

The reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year spent the next three quarters reminding everyone why he won the award last year. He poured in 26 points and dished out seven assists to give Boston strong support from the bench.

Whether or not he’ll continue to start the game on the sidelines is another question, but if he is, then he started off on a high note, for sure.

Luka Garza is a hoss

There’s no other way to put it. Yes, the Celtics just traded for Vucevic, who’s likely going to take some playing time away from Luka Garza, but Garza has been awesome in every opportunity he’s had in Boston.

Tuesday was no different.

The opportunities, however, were created by the Mavs, who for some reason decided they wanted to leave Garza wide open from deep. Man, did he ever make them pay. Garza shot a perfect 4-4 from long range en route to a 16-point outburst off the bench.

On top of the points, the former Collegiate Player of the Year delivered his usual hustle-type production, ripping down four offensive rebounds and snagging a pair of steals.

Garza isn’t a perfect player, but he sure is fun to watch because of how reliable his motor is on a nightly basis.

Cooper Flagg is going to be on the Celtics someday, right?

Of course, everyone knows Dallas forward, and 2025 No. 1 overall pick, Cooper Flagg, hails from Maine. We in the Northeast don’t produce a ton of professional athletes, but when we do, you’re going to hear about it.

During Tuesday’s national broadcast on NBC, there was plenty of coverage on it, in case you weren’t aware that Flagg grew up rooting for the Celtics.

There was even a point where NBC played some Larry Bird highlights to remind fans of who Flagg grew up watching (on tape, not live, of course).

Flagg even wore a pair of green New Balance sneakers as a nod to his childhood team.

It simply feels like a matter of time before he’s wearing the uniform, right?