For the first time, two Boston Celtics players scored 40+ points in a single game, and it wasn’t Jason Tatum & Jaylen Brown….
Payton Pritchard(43 points, 10 three-pointers, 10 rebounds) and Derrick White(41 points, 9 three-pointers) go down as the first Boston Celtics’ to each have over 40 points AND separately, each have nine plus three-pointers in the same game.
Their accumulative effort of 84 points helped the Celtics beat the Portland Trailblazers 128-118 in last night’s outing(Feb. 5th).
Pritchard came off the bench, although he had a team leading 43 minutes, despite Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis being out with injury.
Those injuries allowed White and Pritchard to get way more shots up then usual, and it worked in Boston’s favor tremendously.
Payton Pritchard’s Prolific Performance
This was Payton Pritchard’s best night in the NBA. He shattered his previous career high of 38 and was one three ball away from tying Marcus Smart’s record of most three-pointers in one Celtic game(11). The 6’1″ point guard also managed to sneak in 10 rebounds making him the first player to reach 40+ points, 10 three-pointers and 10 rebounds in a single regulation game. Damian Lillard and James Harden did it in overtime games.
Although Pritchard went off, his team kept collapsing, letting the Portland Trailblazers back into the game multiple times after leading by nearly 30. Their inadequacy led to more minutes, and points, for Payton Pritchard as well as some MVP chants once the game was officially put out of reach.
Maybe the Blazers felt an obligation to fight until the end, it’s Payton Pritchard’s home town team after all.
“It’s always special playing the Blazers,” said Pritchard after the game. “When we were walking into the arena as a little kid I told my parents one day you’re going to come into this arena and watch me.”
Well, last night must have been a full circle moment for the Pritchard family then.
When asked about the added pressure of being down three starters Payton said this. “I don’t think we added any pressure to ourselves. We’re a capable team with a lot of talent. We can run through Sam(Hauser), Al(Horford) the other night had 20, came out and won the game in Denver, D-White too, each night we find a different guy to win and that’s why we are a really special team.”
The Second Half Of The Boston Celtics Record, Derrick White
Derrick White also obtained his career high in NBA points last night. His 41 piece came on nine three pointers(9-17) while shooting 53.8% on the night overall. White also grabbed three rebounds, three steals and recorded two assists as well.
Pritchard immediately acknowledged his partner’s brilliance postgame saying “D-White had stretches where he was unbelievable, he ended up with 41.”
Derrick White was all smiles for Boston after the game. What made him smile the most was recounting a conversation him and “P” had in the locker room before the interview.
“Me and P were talking about it, it was kind of crazy how we weren’t even hitting the rim. Just swishes.”
White went on to comment on Boston’s ultimate goal. “Tonight was fun but we know what the bigger picture is. It’s not about me, it will never be about me. Whatever the teams needs that night, I’ll do it.”
Tatum(shoulder), Porzingis(illness) and Holiday(finger) will all still be out for the Boston Celtic’s game versus the Philadelphia 76ers on March 6th.
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