Boston Celtics
Pritchard scored 36 points in a dominating performance off the court.
Payton Pritchard was 13-for-23 from the floor and 6-for-11 from 3-point range in Friday’s win. Barry Chen/Global Staff
The Celtics were without Jaylen Brown, but Payton Pritchard and Jayson Tatum led the way in victory over the in-form Hawks, recording a 109-102 victory over a team that has won 14 of its last 15 games.
Here are the takeaways.
Payton Pritchard was from another world
I’ve seen Payton Pritchard make all the shots he made against the Hawks before.
Pritchard didn’t do anything new, as he was 13-for-23 from the floor and 6-for-11 from 3-point range. His diet consisted of a combination of pull-up three-pointers from the pick-and-roll, which he made look much easier than they actually were, as well as some Bulldog-defining drives to the basket and put-backs.
But what makes Pritchard so dangerous are nights like Friday when he strings all those shots together. He finished the game against the Hawks with 36 points.
“I don’t think my role changed any more than any other night,” Pritchard said. “Just be aggressive, looking to make a play for my teammates or myself, and just make the right reads.”
Mazzola noted that Pritchard’s impact went far beyond just scoring — the 6-foot-1 guard grabbed two crucial offensive rebounds in the second half (including one that Mazzola quipped looked like a “defensive penalty”), and drew one controversial foul after another (which we’ll get to shortly).
“It’s just those big plays for us,” Mazzola said. “He’s not defined by scoring goals, so that helps us a lot when he does other things.”
Pritchard added that his goal is “just to win basketball.”
“I want to win, so obviously you want to play a game,” Pritchard said. “You see someone release the ball, I see it go off the rim, and I’m just fighting, trying to get it, get extra possession. It’s little things like that that can change the game and win the game.”
“So, yeah, it’s just about desire and competitive spirit.”
Jayson Tatum played a lot
If the Celtics had a real minutes limit on Tatum, that’s clearly over — Tatum played 36 minutes. Although he hasn’t quite found his shot yet (8-for-24 on Friday), Tatum took 10 trips to the free throw line and put up 25 points to go along with 12 rebounds and five assists.
While Tatum is trying to get his shot on track, he still helps the offense flow smoothly as a distributor, especially with Brown sidelined for the time being.
He’s still rusty, Tatum noted.
“It’s all over the place. Sometimes I dribble [expletive] “I love the ball and I suck at it,” Tatum said. “Sometimes I still have the ball but it’s just a curse. It’s frustrating. Obviously some of the shots and layups at the rim, just kind of moving too quickly. So it’s frustrating for me.”
Tatum may be frustrated, but he still does things like this when he gets Onyeka Okongwu on the switch.
Meanwhile, he can still do things like this against Dyson Daniels — spin around one of the best defenders in the league and use his broad shoulders as a shield to shoot the ball.
“I remember like 60 odd games I had to come to and watch,” Tatum said. “I remember when I couldn’t walk and when I couldn’t run on the field yet. So, just remind me to be grateful that I get to do what I love again.”
Tatum knows how rare this opportunity is
A reporter asked Tatum if he’d consider coming back next year to shake off some rust, and he gave a thoughtful answer, stemming from the perspective of having the basketball taken away from him — and the feeling of invincibility that every player eventually loses — last May.
“A lot of it has to do with where the team is and never wanting to take moments in the season for granted, just thinking, ‘Oh, we’re going to be good next year,’” Tatum said. “I’ve been fortunate to be on a lot of really good teams, and you never want to take chances to be on a team that’s competing for a championship.
Tatum said he felt the pull of the “little kid inside” who missed playing the game, but still offered the possibility of walking away for the season, even after he was acquitted.
“I talked to a lot of people to make the decision, and I know I won’t be perfect when I first step on the floor, but I’m showing my teammates that I’m willing to fight for it and give it everything I can,” he said.
“And even though I wasn’t in the same rhythm or mood at first — you knew it was going to take some time — I wanted to be there with them, and I was going to do whatever it took.”
Jordan Walsh got some runs for the first time in a while
With Jaylen Brown sidelined, the Celtics dipped into a wing rotation, giving Walsh real minutes for the first time since March 12, when he played 12 minutes against the Thunder.
Walsh in particular delivered defensively, blocking three shots and giving the Celtics a more versatile defensive look overall. He also finished with five points, which included a well-timed cut-back dunk when Tatum-Derrick White drew his defender into key action.
Mazzola said there is “still a level of confidence,” even when Walsh is not playing.
“If you can help us win, you will play,” Mazzola said. “And even when he wasn’t playing, I still had a level of confidence that when he was out there, he was going to put us in a position to win, and I think he did that tonight.”
The Celtics benefited from a controversial call
Celtics players and fans have been outraged by the way the team has been run this season, so in fairness, it’s worth noting that the Celtics benefited greatly from the somewhat controversial call down the stretch.
With two minutes left and the Celtics cold and clinging to a four-point lead, Sam Hauser missed a 3-pointer.
The foul went to Jalen Johnson, who started what appeared to be a fast break the other way, but a whistle stopped play. Under the basket, Payton Richard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker collided on the floor, and the latter was fouled.
The foul went to Jalen Johnson, who started what appeared to be a fast break the other way, but a whistle stopped play. Under the basket, Payton Richard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker collided on the floor, and the latter was fouled.
The Hawks were furious, and Alexander Walker stormed into official JB DeRosa, claiming that DeRosa hadn’t actually seen the play.
Closer inspection suggests he had a case, as you can see DeRosa not looking at the mistake while it’s happening.
On the other hand, Alexander Walker appears to have met Pritchard. Whether sending Pritchard flying was enough is another question, but Pritchard was contacted from behind.
Jaylen Brown is day to day
Mazzola was asked directly about the level of concern and whether Brown could be available on Sunday, and he simply replied that Brown – who has Achilles tendonitis – is “everyday.”
It seems unlikely that Mazzola’s clipped answer will allay the concerns of Celtics fans who are tired of seeing the word “Achilles” on the injury report.
What’s next
The Celtics will now begin a four-game road trip, starting with the Hornets on Sunday, who have won 13 of their last 16 games. On Monday, they will face the Hawks again before contests against the Heat and Bucks before returning to TD Garden.
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