Pritchard, White react to historic performance vs. Blazers

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Pritchard, White react to historic performance vs. Blazers originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

On Wednesday, Payton Pritchard and Derrick White treated the TD Garden crowd to a performance never before seen in NBA history.

The Boston Celtics duo combined for 19 3-pointers in the team’s 128-118 win over the Portland Trail Blazers — the most ever made by a pair of teammates in a single game.

Both players set career highs in points and 3-pointers. Pritchard finished with 43 points on 10-of-16 shooting from deep, while White wasn’t far behind with 41 points on 9-of-17 from 3. They also became the first Celtics teammates to each score 40 or more points in the same game.

“Unbelievable,” Pritchard said. “It was amazing to watch, because some of the shots (White) was hitting were incredible too and he wasn’t hitting no rim, just straight water. So definitely fun to be out there with him and do it on a special night like this.”

Pritchard and White stepped up with Jayson Tatum (right shoulder impingement), Kristaps Porzingis (illness), and Jrue Holiday (right hand mallet finger) sidelined. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla praised how they seized their opportunity.

“They were tremendous,” Mazzulla said. “I think with the guys out and playing against a really good Portland team, we knew we needed to have guys step up.

“The way those two guys played just shows a lot about who they are. They do a lot of the dirty stuff when we’re fully healthy. They do a lot of the things for the team, and to have a night like this where those two can show what they’re capable of was big for us. So we’re lucky to have them, and it was a lot of fun to watch them do that.”

Pritchard was just one 3-pointer shy of Marcus Smart’s franchise record (11), yet he attempted only one 3 in the fourth quarter. Why?

“The biggest thing was getting the W. And they made a little push, so I wasn’t gonna force a look that wasn’t there,” he explained. “That’s disrespectful to the game and my teammates.”

Fittingly, Pritchard’s career night came against his hometown team. The 27-year-old grew up just outside Portland and…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/pritchard-white-react-historic-performance-223156561.html

Author : NBC Sports Boston

Publish date : 2025-03-05 22:31:00

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