Keys to the Game: Celtics 131, Hornets 98

With their seeding past locked up for the looming Playoffs, the Celtics rested all 5 of their starters plus Al Horford Friday evening in opposition to Charlotte. The reserves didn’t skip a beat.

Friday’s beginning crew of Payton Pritchard, Jaden Springer, Sam Hauser, Svi Mykhailiuk and Luke Kornet, together with reserves Oshae Brissett, Jordan Walsh and Xavier Tillman Sr., helped the Celtics to construct a nine-point lead on a number of events in the course of the first quarter. And that was just the start of this runaway win.

Boston finally pulled forward by as many as 35 factors, spurred by 31-6 run late within the first half that turned a three-point benefit right into a 28-point lead. Pritchard and Hauser, the 2 gamers from Boston’s possible playoff rotation who appeared Friday evening, had been on the middle of the game-changing run as they scored 10 factors apiece in the course of the body. Pritchard scored all 10 of his factors in the course of the run, all whereas shelling out 4 assists.

From that second on, the Celtics had been in cruise management. That allowed members of the Maine Celtics – who had been referred to as up in the course of the G League Finals – to pile up some numbers in the course of the second half. Queta wound up ending with 16 factors, six rebounds and 5 assists, Jordan Walsh piled up eight factors and three rebounds and a steal, JD Davison totaled seven factors, seven assists and 4 rebounds, and Drew Peterson scored eight factors.

Boston’s 131-98 victory secures the truth that the staff will end this season with out ever shedding three straight video games, changing into the primary Celtics roster to perform that feat because the 2010-11 staff.

So many choices, however just one Key Participant spot. Payton Pritchard, together with his career-high scoring effort, is the person who has earned the award tonight.

Pritchard was dominant from begin to end in his spot begin. He led the sport with a career-high 31 factors, and he additionally led the sport with 11 assists. This efficiency marks the third double-double effort of his four-year profession.

As is typical of Pritchard’s recreation, he was extraordinarily environment friendly capturing the ball in opposition to Charlotte. He canned 14 of his 22 pictures from the sector, together with three makes from lengthy distance. He led the sport in each discipline objective makes and makes an attempt and set new profession highs in every class.

Pritchard rounded out his field rating with three rebounds and one steal, displaying everybody who’s watching that he’s greater than prepared for the brilliant lights of the postseason.

“The sport’s straightforward once you make it straightforward.”

– Payton Pritchard on scoring 31 factors in solely three quarters of motion