2) Payton Pritchard’s legendary half-court buzzer-beater
One of the most memorable moments of the 2023-24 campaign came in the final game of the season – Game 5 of the Finals. Payton Pritchard had not received a single minute in the first half before Joe Mazzulla checked him into the game with just four seconds left in the second quarter.
In typical P-Rabbit fashion, the point guard heaved a half-court shot at the halftime buzzer and nailed it. Pandemonium ensued in TD Garden as fans, players, and coaches went absolutely ballistic.
PAYTON PRITCHARD AT THE HALFTIME BUZZER 😱😱😱#NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/EWNr3Bi3Oj
— ESPN (@espn) June 18, 2024
Jayson Tatum was HYPED after Pritchard’s halfcourt buzzer-beater 😤🚨 https://t.co/n7NgUobXwV pic.twitter.com/DUkNX7jpek
— NBA (@NBA) June 18, 2024
The sheer ecstasy of Pritchard’s miracle shot geared fans up for the celebration of a title that seemed all but secured with the Celtics up 67-46 at the half. Most Celtics fans will remember exactly where they were when Pritchard hit that shot.
The play went viral all over social media, and it is probably the most talked-about shot of the 2024 playoffs to this day. Incredibly enough, this was not Pritchard’s first buzzer-beating heave of the series.
In Game 2, Boston’s backup point guard launched it from the logo and banked it in to end the third quarter. Pritchard’s special knack for making these types of shots has turned him into a true fan favorite. Celtics fans love Pritchard, and he certainly seems to love them back.
PAYTON PRITCHARD FROM DOWNTOWN TO BEAT THE 3Q BUZZER 😱🚨#NBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV
— NBA (@NBA) June 10, 2024
🏆 Game 2 on ABC 🏆 pic.twitter.com/hF8eIT3sW9
When it was all said and done, Pritchard left his greatest imprint on Banner 18 by scoring three points in four seconds. Truly the stuff of legends.