Payton Pritchard scored a career-high 31 points and the Boston Celtics won with authority 131-98 over the Charlotte Hornets. Pritchard added 11 assists for his second double-double of the season and helped the Celtics avoid losing three straight games in a season for the first time since 2010-11.
Luke Kornet finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Sam Hauser and Neemias Queta also added 16 points for Boston, which led by as many as 33 points and only committed six turnovers.
Pritchard is expected to have a big role off the bench in the playoffs, and coach Joe Mazzulla said his performance was indicative of how much he has grown and committed to his role this season.
The Celtics’ top six rotation players – Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford – rested due to discomfort in what was basically a restful night for them. Boston has already secured first place in the Eastern Conference and home field advantage throughout the postseason.
They will likely get another day of rest on Sunday when Boston concludes its regular schedule against Washington.
That also likely means another start for Pritchard, who is looking to appear in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his four-year career.
Tre Mann led the Hornets with 19 points and eight assists. Nick Smith Jr. added 15 points.
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2024-04-13 07:40:13
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