This stat proves that Pritchard is among the most decisive players in the NBA originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
Payton Pritchard’s shot from midcourt to end the third quarter in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals came as no surprise to those who have watched the Boston Celtics guard all season.
Pritchard has consistently provided a spark off the bench with 3-pointers, including a handful of buzzers at half court. It just so happened that Sunday was on the biggest stage.
C coach Joe Mazzulla praised Pritchard’s shooting following his team’s 105-98 victory.
“I think the game can’t go unnoticed – the humility of our team – it’s Payton’s chance at the end of the quarter,” Mazzulla said. “You see guys around the league pass up that shot or pretend they want to make it so their numbers don’t get messed up — he takes pride in doing that, and that’s winning in basketball.”
Pritchard has been among the best in the NBA at the end of quarters and the numbers prove it. According to Taylor Snow of Celtics.com, Pritchard and teammate Jayson Tatum are tied for the championship lead with nine 3-pointers in the last four seconds of a quarter this season.
He would have sole possession of the lead with 10, but one of his two half-court buzzers against the Washington Wizards on Feb. 9 was just a millisecond too late.
Understandably, Pritchard exudes confidence with the ball in his hands and the game clock winding down.
“Joe put me in with three seconds left, so I like those moments,” Pritchard told NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin after the Game 2 win. “I live for them. So I made the most of it.”
Pritchard’s shot from midcourt scored his only points in his 12 minutes of action on Sunday, but they were arguably the most important points of the game for the Celtics. Boston carried that momentum into the fourth quarter and finished off the Dallas Mavericks to take a 2-0 series lead.
The C’s will try to win 3-0 in Dallas on Wednesday. No team has ever recovered from a three-game loss in an NBA playoff series.
