Not only did Payton Pritchard get his first start of the season Sunday, he also got the nod against the Trail Blazers, his hometown team. The guard’s first start even got off to a great open as he knocked down a 3-pointer just 33 seconds into the game.
It’s just that the next few minutes didn’t go exactly as planned. Pritchard picked up two quick fouls five seconds apart from each other. Then he got his third personal foul just 4:39 into the game as he was forced to go to the bench. So, that was a tough blow considering the circumstances, which Pritchard joked about postgame.
“It’s definitely very emotional just growing up and watching these games as a kid,” Pritchard told NBC Sports Boston after the game. “But ultimately, my first start this year didn’t go how I wanted. I got three fouls in like three minutes. Maybe I’ll just stick to coming off the bench, that’s much more fitting for me right now.”
Fortunately for him and the pro-Pritchard crowd, he still showed off anyway. Pritchard finished with 16 points, four rebounds and five assists as the Celtics downed the Blazers for their fifth straight victory. He finished the game with three fouls and 32 minutes, so the early foul trouble didn’t slow him down for the rest of the night. Pritchard said he found out earlier Sunday he was going to start. He added that got the start because he was playing in his home state, growing up in West Linn, Oregon.
The Celtics were without three starters Sunday in Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. So that opened the door for Pritchard to get the rare start. He’s the betting favorite to win the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year for a reason as he’s done all his damage coming off the bench this season. But C’s coach Joe Mazzulla rolled with Pritchard to start the game Sunday as the guard once again stepped up.
“It is what it is,” Mazzulla said of the early foul trouble. “When you come back, just do what you do. Did a good job of playing through it. In moments, you want to trust the guys and give them the opportunity to do that. I feel like that was good for him to play through that.”
The Celtics are now 2-0 on their six-game road trip. Next, they face the Kings at 10 p.m. Monday in Sacramento as part of the back-to-back. As a result, expect the Celtics to rest some guys for Monday’s game, though they’ll also likely return some of their starters.
Regardless, the C’s can lean on Pritchard in whatever role they need him to as he enjoys a breakout season. And it certainly didn’t hurt that he got some extra cheers from his crowd in Portland, Oregon.
“I’ve had a lot of success in this state,” Pritchard said. “I feel like I left my mark in high school with four state championships and then in Oregon doing what I did and winning a lot there. So I’ve tried to do a lot for just in general for Oregon and it’s definitely home and I’m appreciative of the support I get.”
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