Watch: Payton Pritchard nails half-court heave to end first quarter
Pritchard gave the Celtics a spark as the first buzzer sounded.
Payton Pritchard ended the first quarter with an exclamation point on Friday night.
The Celtics trailed the Washington Wizards by seven in the final seconds of the opening frame. With just two seconds before the break, Pritchard took the inbound and heaved a shot from well beyond half-court. He banked it in off the glass for his first points of the game, and a momentum boost for Boston.
Watch the highlight-worthy play here:
The Wizards came into Friday’s game as massive underdogs thanks to their stay at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. But, they had no issue taking it to the Celtics early. So, Pritchard’s last-second bucket proved crucial to cap off the quarter on a high note.
Pritchard is averaging 7.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game this season. He’s played in every game and is averaging 20.7 minutes per contest — the most of his career. Pritchard is certainly taking advantage of his opportunities after signing an extension with Boston this offseason.
Even with a slight stumble in its last few games, the Celtics remain atop the Eastern Conference with a record of 39-12, nearing the All-Star break. They also hold the best record in the entire NBA, besting the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, who each have a 36-16 record to lead the West.
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