Payton Pritchard Makes NBA History

Matthew Willar

News Editor

Derrick White and Payton Pritchard made history on March 5, becoming the first duo in Boston Celtics history to score more than 40 points in the same game. In a 128-118 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the duo combined for 82 points, led by a combined 19 total three-pointers.

The short-handed Celtics, who just came off an important win over the Denver Nuggets, were without three of their starters, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis. This left White, Jaylen Brown, Al Horford, and Pritchard responsible for leading the team past the young and hungry Trail Blazers.

Pritchard, who has been the arguable favorite to win the Sixth Man of the Year award, scored a career-high 43 points with 10 three-pointers. White, who has been one of the Celtics’ most consistent players since being traded to the team in 2022, scored a career-high 41 points with nine three-pointers.

The duo didn’t just make Celtics history, but made NBA history, becoming the first teammates to each make nine or more three-pointers in a game. Pritchard said after the game, “…having my teammates and coaches to have the confidence in me now to allow me to have nights like this. … It just builds and builds and finally you see it on nights like this,” according to The Associated Press.

White, who has played in all but two games this season, is averaging a career-high 16.7 points per game on nearly 40% three-point shooting. Pritchard, who has come off the bench in every game this year, is averaging a career-high 14.4 points per game, up nearly five points from last season. He has been the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year all season long, showing dominating performances since the season began back in October.

The Celtics, who currently stand at 45-18, are looking to get back to the NBA Finals and repeat their championship run from last year. Currently eight games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first seed in the Eastern Conference, the team is looking to get fully healthy before the postseason. Injuries from Holiday and Porzingis have plagued the Celtics since returning from the All-Star break, but performances like that of White and Pritchard last week have made up for the loss of the team’s key players that got them over the hump last season to win the championship.