The Boston Celtics found themselves in a familiar spot - bouncing back on the road. After a narrow loss to Minnesota, they responded with a gritty, grind-it-out win in Cleveland, edging the Cavaliers in a game that came down to execution and matchups.
And in the absence of Derrick White, it was Payton Pritchard who stepped up in a massive way, pouring in 42 points on a blistering 68% shooting night. This wasn’t just a hot hand - it was a tactical masterclass in exploiting defensive mismatches.
Let’s talk about that. Because while Pritchard’s stat line jumps off the page, what really stood out was how Boston’s offense - particularly their so-called “Killer Whale” approach - systematically hunted Cleveland’s smaller guards, especially Darius Garland and Craig Porter Jr.
This isn’t new for the Celtics. Over the past dozen meetings between these two teams, they've split the series evenly, with three going to overtime.
But one constant has been Boston’s ability to leverage its size and physicality, especially in the backcourt.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla summed it up postgame: “Our matchup recognition was intentional.” And the film backs him up.
The Celtics went 7-for-10 from the field when Garland was the primary defender, and they repeatedly used him in screening actions to create breakdowns. The strategy was clear: find the weak link, isolate it, and attack.
Take the opening play. Cleveland clearly wanted to hide Garland on less threatening wings like Jordan Walsh, Sam Hauser, or Baylor Scheierman.
But Boston wasn’t having it. Jaylyn Tyson initially picks up Walsh, and Garland signals for a switch to avoid defending Pritchard.
But the switch is a beat late - and that’s all Pritchard needs to spring free for a clean look from deep. Bucket.
That’s the thing about pushing the pace - it forces defenses into uncomfortable positions. After a defensive rebound, Jaylen Brown immediately advances the ball to Pritchard, getting it across half court in three seconds.
That speed prevents Cleveland from setting their preferred matchups. Brown ends up missing the shot, but the intent is crystal clear.
He gets the ball, sees Garland in front of him, and tells everyone to clear out. That’s a green light every time.
Boston kept going back to their bread-and-butter: the “77 action” - two consecutive ball screens designed to create chaos. On one possession, the first screen gets Brown matched up with Porter Jr.
Brown draws help, and Pritchard - spaced perfectly near the hash - gets the kick-out and buries it. That was one of Brown’s 10 assists on the night, and it showed how the Celtics weren’t just hunting mismatches - they were reading and reacting at a high level.
Cleveland tried to counter with scram switches - a tactic used to pull Garland out of disadvantageous matchups before the ball gets there - but Boston adjusted. After one such switch bailed the Cavs out, the Celtics didn’t let it happen again.
They became more deliberate, more surgical. One screen, one mismatch, one decisive action.
And it wasn’t just about freeing up Brown or Pritchard. The “Killer Whale” concept also created ripple effects elsewhere.
On another 77 look, Boston gets Garland switched onto Brown. Evan Mobley, Cleveland’s best rebounder, gets dragged out to the perimeter by a second screen.
Brown attacks, and Xavier Tillman crashes the glass for the offensive board. That’s the kind of layered offense that wears teams down - it’s not just about the first option, it’s about what happens when the defense has to rotate, help, and recover.
Later, the Celtics ran the same set, this time with Garland on Hauser. The second screen flips Garland onto Pritchard, and then Brown comes in to screen again.
Cleveland helps off Pritchard, who’s been on fire all night, and he makes them pay. It’s a simple read, but one that only works when the offense is spaced, timed, and confident.
Boston kept going back to the well - and why not? It was working.
On one possession, they flipped the script. Instead of using a screen to get Garland into the action, they had the player Garland was guarding set the screen for Brown.
The Cavs, trying to avoid switching Garland onto Brown, hesitated just long enough. Hauser’s screen gives Brown a half step, he gets into the paint, draws three defenders, and kicks it to - who else? - Pritchard for another clean look.
By the fourth quarter, it was officially Pritchard Time.
The Celtics ran 77 again. Brown draws the entire defense - all eyes on him - and makes the right read.
Again. And again.
And again. Pritchard kept delivering, knocking down shots and making Cleveland pay for every missed rotation.
And fittingly, the game ended the same way it had played out all night. Pritchard, red-hot, gets Garland isolated on him.
Brown sees it, clears out, and lets his guy go to work. Pritchard delivers the dagger.
This was more than just a bounce-back win - it was a blueprint. The Celtics didn’t just out-talent the Cavaliers.
They out-thought them, out-executed them, and leaned into a matchup-hunting identity that’s becoming a real weapon. With or without Derrick White, this team knows how to dissect a defense.
And if Payton Pritchard keeps playing like this? The rest of the East better take notice.