When the Celtics forced overtime against the Pacers, erasing a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter, there were the usual cast members. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White were there down the stretch of Wednesday’s overtime loss. But so were two reserve players: Payton Pritchard and Neemias Queta.
C‘s coach Joe Mazzulla put Queta into the game at the start of the fourth quarter, and the big man rewarded that decision with his high-energy play to transform the game. There was also Pritchard, who has enjoyed a stellar start to the season. And he‘s quickly making the case for more minutes, much like Wednesday’s overtime thriller.
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Pritchard finished with a season-high 39 minutes played in the Pacers loss, putting up 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. It wasn‘t his most efficient game as he finished 5-for-14 from the field, hitting 4-for-11 of his 3-pointers. But Pritchard‘s value doesn’t just come from his scoring output, though that’s been a huge part of the equation.
In watching Pritchard, he‘s seemingly everywhere even though he’s just 6-foot-1. He‘s crashing the offensive boards, consistently looking for chances at extra possessions. He‘s getting in to force a jump ball, like he did late in Wednesday’s game. Pritchard also tries relentlessly on defense, making up for his smaller frame.
Through six games, Pritchard is averaging 16.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in his 27.7 minutes per game — all career-highs. Obviously, it‘s still early as the season is only five games old. But after a slow start against the Knicks, Pritchard has scored in double-figures in the past four games. And that’s with a relatively full-strength Celtics roster, meaning the minutes are likely going to be there for Pritchard throughout the year. So the fan favorite should have plenty of opportunities going forward.
“I feel like it comes because I look like an ordinary person, and I feel like I give hope to everybody that is the same size as me,” Pritchard said after his Bucks performance. “I’m not necessarily the most athletic, but with hard work, you can make it a long way, and I feel like I’m the prime example of that. I never quit — and I keep going. Anything that you put your mind to in life, you can accomplish it. So I’m proud to give hope to those people.”
Pritchard‘s production also comes knowing the Celtics have him signed through the prime of his career. He‘s still only 26 years old and the team signed him to a four-year, $30 million extension last season. Pritchard is still in the first year of his deal, and considering how much they’re getting out of him, that contract already looks like a steal.
For now, Pritchard will enjoy the fruits of his hot start. Fans are already pushing an NBA Sixth Man of the Year campaign, though it‘s too early for that race to really take shape. But if Pritchard can work off this early momentum, the Celtics just have another weapon they can rely on off the bench. He’ll keep showing up on opposing game plans, too, like Milwaukee coach Doc Rivers pointed out recently.
