The Boston Celtics have returned from the All-Star break with a clear sense of purpose. After decisively defeating the Golden State Warriors, they're now setting their sights on the Los Angeles Lakers, showing no signs of slowing down.
With the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Detroit Pistons, the Celtics have been on a roll, winning 10 of their last 13 games. As they face the Lakers on a night honoring legendary coach Pat Riley, the Celtics are determined to keep their momentum going.
In the first half, the Celtics remained focused, heading into halftime with a 60-50 lead. Key performances came from Jaylen Brown, who contributed 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists, Derrick White with 10 points and 5 assists, and Payton Pritchard, who made a significant impact off the bench with 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Pritchard dazzled the crowd with a remarkable step-back 3-pointer midway through the second quarter. He faked an inside move, causing Laker defender Jarred Vanderbilt to retreat to the paint. Seizing the moment, Pritchard stepped back and nailed the shot, leaving Vanderbilt off-balance and on the floor, 20 feet away.
As the second quarter drew to a close, Pritchard struck again. With the clock ticking down, he launched a long 3-pointer over Luka Doncic, just as the buzzer sounded, securing a 10-point lead for the Celtics at halftime.