The Celtics and Cavaliers were locked in a tight game Sunday in Cleveland, though that’s expected as the two best teams in the East met up for the second time this season. Down the stretch of the tight game, it essentially turned into a free throw contest between the teams.
It started after the Cavs took a four-point lead with 34 seconds left. The Celtics then slimmed it down to a two-point game after Kristaps Porzingis made some free throws, and that’s when the foul game started on Boston’s side to extend the game. The Cavs needed to keep making free throws to protect their four-point lead while hoping the Celtics didn’t hit a 3-pointer.
But Payton Pritchard had other ideas. He nailed a 3-pointer with 16.9 seconds left to make it a 107-106 Cavs lead. After Darius Garland put the Cavs up by three points courtesy of two made free throws, it forced Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson to make a decision: either foul up three or just play it out. But Atkinson revealed after the Cavs beat the Celtics that he altered his game plan partially due to Pritchard.
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“I think 10 seconds is kind of our thing (to foul up three points)‚” Atkinson told reporters postgame. “But we fouled before. I was like, ‘Screw that, we’re fouling.’ I don’t want to see Payton Pritchard come down and shoot a step-back 3. We let them bring it up a little, fouled near half-court and all that.”
From there, the Celtics and Cavs essentially exchanged free throws as the final seconds of the game took a lot longer in real time. Eventually, with 5.0 seconds left and with a three-point lead, the Cavs fouled Pritchard again to send him to the free throw line.
Pritchard made the first free throw, making it a 113-111 game. Then when he got the ball for the second free throw, he immediately flung it toward the rim on the intentional miss to catch everyone off-guard. The move would’ve worked since Pritchard ended up with the rebound. But he moved too quickly into the paint without waiting for the ball to hit the rim, so he was called for the lane violation.
It was a good effort by Pritchard who continues to pop up on opposing scouting reports — and for good reason. This time, he poured in 24 points off the bench for the shorthanded C’s, though he got a boost with all the free throws down the stretch. But that performance follows up his loud Bulls game where he took over in the fourth quarter. So as Pritchard continues his Sixth Man of the Year push, opposing coaches will also continue to prioritize him for the game plan.
“I didn’t used to be a foul guy up three and I’ve just changed,” Atkinson said. “The more and more evidence we’re getting from NBA data and our people — the question is what time on the shot clock do you start fouling.”
