BSJ Game Report: Celtics 93, Hornets 86 - Pritchard's 34 caps regular season for Celts

Everything you need to know about the Celtics win over the Hornets, with BSJ insight and analysis.

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics doubled up the Hornets in the first thanks to some hot shooting. The Hornets were able to shave a couple off that, heading into halftime down 11. Charlotte took a lead in the third as Boston shot 1-13 from 3 in the quarter, but Payton Pritchard helped Boston answer and hold Charlotte off in the fourth.

Box Score

HEADLINES

- Regular season is over: The Celtics finish with 61 wins, just three off last season’s total. After everything they went through in the middle of the season, those three losses essentially amount to five plays that could have led to wins to match last year’s total. 

- Appropriate performances: The Celtics got appropriately good performances from the guys who will play in the playoffs. Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Luke Kornet all looked ready. 

TURNING POINT 

The Hornets went on a 21-6 run in the third to take a lead but the Celtics answered. Pritchard scored 10 of 12 Boston points early in the fourth to help the Celtics regain the lead. There was a brief tie, but Boston never trailed again.

THINGS I LIKED

- Hustle down the stretch: These guys don’t get much opportunity, and they had gone super cold after the first quarter. It was good to see the incredible effort in the final two minutes to make the winning plays. Also, I was happy they were able to avoid overtime. 

“I thought towards the end of the game, JD (Davison), Jordan (Walsh) and (Neemias Queta) made some big-time plays there,” Joe Mazzulla said. “It’s just playing to level, the standard, executing. You knew they were shooting, they were one for something from three in the first half, so you knew that they were going to go on a run, and we had to manage that. And they took the lead, and our guys would be able to execute and poise. So regardless of who’s in, who’s out, there should be an attention to detail, to a level of execution. I thought the guys did that tonight.”

- Support from the starters: Everyone but Jaylen Brown (who I assume is home resting) showed up and spent time on the bench to support the guys who were in the game, which is nice. 

- Payton Pritchard: He was the best player on the floor by far. He finished with 34 points on 14-25 shooting, seven rebounds, and seven assists. 

- Family day: It's nice to see everyone with their kids around. I don't care how many times I repeat myself, I'll take every reminder people get that players are human beings who just happen to have an elite skill.

- That the Celtics wore those ugly uniforms: I thought this was supposed to be fan appreciation night. How does wearing the lime-green road hazard unis show any appreciation?

HIGHLIGHTS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Payton Pritchard locked up Sixth Man of the Year. 

This award was probably decided prior to this game, and this technically was a start, but Pritchard’s performance in this spot shows how good he really is. 

“I feel like I put myself in the best situation possible to win it,” Pritchard said. “I'm proud of that and I feel like I've done my job as far as helping this team come off the bench and be a spark and try to be the best bench player in the league.”

I tried to see if, now that the regular season is over, he might be more willing to make a case for himself and do a little campaigning, but he wasn’t into that. 

“At the end of the day, if I get voted for it, it's an unbelievable award and be a great honor, but at the end of the day, it's out of my control if they vote for me or not,” he said. “If I get it, it’s not going to stop my journey, it’s not going to stop the work I’m going to put in. This would just be another stepping stone. People could write about it if I get it, saying I have an award, but at the end of the day I feel like I’m just looking to keep growing and growing. And I feel like the future, I don’t know what that holds.”

- It’s nice to see JD Davison get rewarded. 

He had a nice game off the bench, including a fourth quarter stretch where he hit jumper, grabbed a rebound, made a steal, and hit Pritchard for a 3. 

Davison signed a standard NBA contract before the game, earning a deal after three years of two-way contracts. 

“It’s not easy, man, especially like playing in the G League for three years,” he said before the game. “It's not easy to stay in the course, but I feel like I stayed down, I stayed the course. I just kept my head down, put it in the work.”

The deal is a minimum contract with a non-guaranteed second year. Davison said he called his mom to give her the news, and she immediately started crying. 

“I know my mom, I know she’s been praying about it every day,” he said. “I know she’s super proud. I know everyone back home is super proud. So just knowing that I’ve got them behind me, they just tell me to keep going and it’s going to be all right.”

Davison is now eligible to play in the playoffs, giving Boston an extra body they can turn to if need be. It also seems that he’ll be insurance in a potential Jrue Holiday trade. Assuming Pritchard is elevated to starter in that situation, having Davison on the bench as someone who is comfortable with the scheme and players could be helpful. 

Next up: The playoffs! We’ll find out who they play on Tuesday night.