By 5 video games within the 2024-25 season, the Celtics are 4-1. They took their first loss on Wednesday night time in OT vs. the Pacers. Boston is operating again the identical squad from final season on their highway to what they hope is back-to-back championships.
To start the season, Kristaps Porzingis is unavailable for the Celtics. He had ankle surgical procedure after the NBA Finals and remains to be recovering. That’s opened up some minutes for different gamers to start the yr. Backup guard Payton Pritchard has benefited from the chance. He’s been a catalyst for Boston off the bench in 2024-25. Pritchard is averaging (16.2) factors per recreation. If he can preserve that form of manufacturing up all season, Pritchard is in line to have a career-best yr.
Payton Pritchard has been dependable off the bench for head coach Joe Mazzulla
Concern No Second pic.twitter.com/PT4w9l43DJ
— Payton Pritchard (@paytonpritch3) October 29, 2024
With the twenty sixth choose within the 2020 NBA draft, the Celtics chosen Payton Pritchard out of Oregon. The 2024-25 season is his fifth with Boston and he’s performed 272 video games and has made 14 begins. He performed in all 82 video games for the Celtics final season and averaged a career-high (9.6) factors and (22.3) minutes per recreation. Throughout his 5 seasons within the NBA, Pritchard has been a participant who comes off the bench and might present a spark. The 26-year-old is understood for his marksmanship from vary.
For his profession, Pritchard averages (.398) % from past the arc. In 5 video games to start the 2024-25 season, the previous first-round choose is taking pictures (.469) % from deep. Moreover, Pritchard’s (16.2) factors per recreation are by far one of the best common in his profession. If something, he’s proved to his head coach that he wants extra minutes this season. He’s scored 15+ factors in 4 of his final 5 video games. In the event you take away a three-point efficiency to begin the season, he’s averaging (19.5) factors per recreation over his final 4. By 5 video games this season, Pritchard is averaging extra factors per recreation than two of Boston’s starters. The Celtics’ subsequent recreation is Friday vs. the Hornets.