BOSTON — Payton Pritchard delivered a remarkable performance, scoring a career-high 43 points, including a personal best of ten 3-pointers, to propel the shorthanded Boston Celtics to a 128-118 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night. Derrick White also put up career numbers, adding 41 points and nine 3s. This dynamic duo etched their names into the Celtics’ history books by being the first pair from the team to record 40 or more points in the same game. Additionally, they made NBA history as the premier duo to achieve at least nine 3-pointers each in a single game.
Despite the absence of key starters — Jayson Tatum due to a shoulder injury, Jrue Holiday with a finger issue, and Kristaps Porzingis battling illness — Pritchard’s efforts compensated for these losses, leading a Celtics squad that rained down 23 3-pointers. The matchup remained intensely competitive throughout the first half, with five ties and 15 lead changes. However, Boston pulled ahead by outscoring Portland 36-27 in the third quarter.
Anfernee Simons topped the scoring for Portland with 30 points, while Shaedon Sharpe chipped in with 25. This contest marked the sixth of a seven-game road trip for the Blazers, who managed four wins in their previous five outings.
Some significant takeaways stemmed from the game. For the Trail Blazers, Boston altered its defensive strategies successfully, preventing Portland from frequenting the rim and forcing them to rely more on jump shots. This left the Blazers struggling to compete with Boston’s prolific 3-point shooting. The Celtics, on the other hand, reveled in yet another robust victory, highlighting a substitute player’s pivotal role, showcasing their depth and bolstering their prospects for another NBA championship run.
A pivotal moment came when the Blazers narrowed what was once a 25-point gap to 124-116 with 2:35 remaining. The Celtics responded with consecutive defensive stops and clinched the win with timely free throws. The game also underscored a key statistic: Pritchard has now hit at least five 3-pointers in 20 games this season, placing him fourth in the NBA rankings.
Looking ahead, the Trail Blazers are set to wrap up their road trip with a game against Oklahoma City on Friday night. Meanwhile, the Celtics are preparing to host the 76ers on Thursday night.
