Payton Pritchard delivered exactly what Celtics were missing in clutch Game 3 win

The Celtics’ Game 2 loss to the 76ers was alarming for many reasons, but the biggest concern was the lack of scoring around Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Nobody else on the team reached double figures. It became clear that if Boston doesn’t get offense from a third player, logically, either Derrick White or Payton Pritchard, they’re in hot water.

Luckily, in Game 3, it was Pritchard who answered the bell, coming through for the Celtics with 15 points off the bench. He hit 5 threes, plus pulled down 4 rebounds, and dished out 2 assists while recording a +18 net rating in a big, 108-100 Game 3 victory over the Sixers to give the Cs a 2-1 lead in this first-round series.

PP also came up big on the defensive end, doing a great job on VJ Edgecombe and others. Most importantly, Pritchard made his biggest play in the biggest moment, knocking down one of the biggest shots of the game, as he caught a grenade with the shot clock winding down and just over a minute to play, and buried a sidestep three on Kelly Oubre.

That shot put the Cs in front, 103-98, and was the dagger before the dagger (Tatum put the finishing touches on things a possession later). It also exemplified why his teammates and coaches trust Pritcahrd, and why he’s capable of taking on this bigger role.

Celtics need more consistency from Pritchard

Pritchard is a core part of this team, and it should come as no surprise that he played all 12 minutes in the fourth quarter. He’s the third or fourth option, and his offense is no longer a nice luxury; his team needs him.

This wasn’t even a great performance from Payton, but he found a way to get it done. They can’t afford the 4 points and -15 he put up in Game 2. And especially as D-White continues to struggle with his shot, the Cletics need a consistent source of creation and scoring behind the Jays. That’s a void that Pritchard simply must fill.

He’s more than capable, and he has done it all year, but the playoffs are a different beast. This is his first real test, and the results have been up and down. But Friday night’s performance in an ugly rock fight in a hostile environment was a great sign. Let’s hope this becomes the norm moving forward.

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