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Payton Pritchard's desperation 3-pointer deemed 'play of the game' by Celtics in Game 2
  • NBA Finals: Celtics vs. Mavericks
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    Payton Pritchard’s desperation 3-pointer deemed ‘play of the game’ by Celtics in Game 2

    Payton Pritchard doesn’t care much about what his line in the stat sheet looks like, which is one of the many things that endears him to Joe Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics.

    He was sent into Game 2 of the NBA Finals with 3.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, with one mission: Take a desperation 3-pointer before time expires. It’s a low-percentage shot, and it’s no secret that plenty of NBA players won’t take them because it can hurt their stats.

    Pritchard takes them happily. And this time, it worked.

    A 34-footer, from the Finals logo just inside the midcourt stripe, bounced off the backboard and in for a nine-point lead going into the fourth quarter. They were Pritchard’s only three points of Game 2, and they were an unforgettable part of Boston’s 105-98 win over the Dallas Mavericks.

    “I think the play of the game can’t go unnoticed, the humility of our team, is Payton’s shot at the end of the quarter,” said Mazzulla, the Celtics’ coach. “You see guys around the league pass up on that shot or fake like they want to take it, so that their numbers don’t get messed up. He takes pride in taking that, and that’s winning basketball.”

    The play was one that the Celtics call for Pritchard. He caught the inbounds pass while building a head of steam, took three dribbles, stopped just in time and let it fly. It went in, he started jumping around like a madman and a sold-out crowd at TD Garden followed suit.

    “The energy that Payton brings, him just having the (courage) to take that shot … it was definitely a confidence boost,” Celtics guard Jrue Holiday said.

    According to SportRadar, Pritchard is one of five players in the NBA with at least 13 attempts from 30 or more feet in the final 3 seconds of a period this season. Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton went 5 for 20 in those moments, Denver’s Nikola Jokic went 1 for 16, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard went 4 for 14 and Dallas’ Luka Doncic is 0 for 14 on those tries.

    They’re all superstars, all max-contract guys who don’t have to worry if their 3-point percentage takes a tiny hit.

    Pritchard — now 2 for 13 on such heaves this season — isn’t a max guy. Not even close. He sacrifices the numbers anyway, and that’s what Mazzulla was raving about after Game 2.

    “It shows belief he put me in in that situation, knowing I could hit that shot.” Pritchard said. “To believe in me, it means a lot as a player.”

    And it wasn’t some throwaway moment, either.

    Dallas had just cut a double-digit deficit down to six, a very manageable margin going into the final 12 minutes. Pritchard’s shot wasn’t just three big points; it breathed life into Boston going into that closing quarter.

    “He has the humility and selflessness to not care if he misses it,” Mazzulla said. “He practises it and has an understanding of how a shot like that can impact the end of a quarter and it can impact the run that a team makes. So, they had went on a run to end the quarter, and I thought that shot kind of gave us a little bit of poise and a little bit of momentum that we needed heading into the fourth quarter. That was big-time.”

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    In a thrilling Game 2 matchup between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat, Payton Pritchard’s desperation 3-pointer proved to be the defining moment of the game. With just seconds left on the clock and the Celtics trailing by two points, Pritchard stepped up and delivered a clutch shot that ultimately propelled his team to victory.

    The rookie guard’s shot was nothing short of miraculous, as he was tightly guarded by Heat defenders and had to release the ball with little time remaining. Despite the odds stacked against him, Pritchard remained calm under pressure and drained the shot, sending the TD Garden crowd into a frenzy.

    Celtics head coach Ime Udoka praised Pritchard’s composure and confidence in the crucial moment, stating that the young guard’s ability to stay focused and deliver in high-pressure situations is a testament to his talent and work ethic.

    The significance of Pritchard’s 3-pointer was not lost on his teammates either, with star forward Jayson Tatum calling it the “play of the game” and crediting Pritchard for stepping up when his team needed him most.

    The win in Game 2 was a much-needed boost for the Celtics, who now find themselves tied 1-1 in the series with the Heat. Pritchard’s heroics have undoubtedly given his team a newfound sense of momentum and confidence as they look ahead to the rest of the series.

    As for Pritchard himself, he remains humble in the wake of his game-winning shot, emphasizing that he is simply doing his job and contributing in any way he can to help his team succeed. With his clutch performance in Game 2, Payton Pritchard has solidified himself as a key player for the Celtics and a rising star to watch in the NBA.