The Celtics hit the All-Star break with a statement win and some serious momentum. Their 124-105 victory over the Bulls on Wednesday night wasn’t just another tally in the win column-it was a showcase of how this retooled Boston roster continues to find ways to thrive, even without some of its biggest names.
Boston enters the break at 35-19, sitting comfortably in second place in the Eastern Conference. That’s impressive on its own, but it's even more remarkable considering the context: the Celtics traded away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis this past offseason and have been without Jayson Tatum all year. Yet somehow, they’ve kept the engine running-and one of the key spark plugs has been Payton Pritchard.
Pritchard’s Emergence as a Bench Force
Pritchard has been nothing short of electric since moving to the bench. Against Chicago, he poured in 26 points in 34 minutes, shooting an efficient 11-of-18 from the field and knocking down three triples.
But this wasn’t just a scoring outburst. Pritchard added eight assists and five rebounds, showing off the kind of all-around game that keeps defenses honest and offenses humming.
What he's doing off the bench isn’t just impactful-it’s historic. Pritchard has now joined a very exclusive club in Celtics lore. Only four players in franchise history have posted multiple 25-point, 5-rebound, 5-assist games off the bench: Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Gordon Hayward… and now Payton Pritchard.
That’s not just a fun stat-it’s a testament to how significant his contributions have been. Bird and McHale are Hall of Famers.
Hayward was a high-level starter and All-Star. And now Pritchard is carving out his own niche among Boston’s rich basketball legacy.
A Look at the Numbers
For the season, Pritchard is averaging 17.2 points and 5.3 assists per game. He’s shooting 35.6% from beyond the arc and hitting 85.6% of his free throws. Those numbers are more than solid-they’re the kind of production you need from a sixth man who can stabilize the second unit and occasionally take over a game when the starters need a breather.
With Tatum sidelined, Pritchard’s ability to step into a bigger role has been critical. He’s not just filling minutes-he’s changing games.
Around the Celtics
Elsewhere in Celtics world, the All-Star break festivities have a bit of green sprinkled throughout. Ron Harper Jr. took part in the NBA’s Rising Stars Challenge on Friday night, and while he found himself on the wrong end of a viral moment, he’s still representing Boston on the big stage.
The Celtics will also be featured in the Skills Challenge, with the Harper family participating, and of course, Jaylen Brown is set to suit up in Sunday’s All-Star Game.
And there’s some encouraging news on the Jayson Tatum front. He’s back practicing, working with the Maine Celtics in the G League. While there’s still no official word on a return date, any sign of progress is welcome news for a team that’s already proven it can compete without him-and would be even more dangerous with him back in the lineup.
Looking Ahead
The Celtics return to action on February 19 against the Golden State Warriors. Golden State is still fighting to stay in the playoff mix in a loaded Western Conference, but Boston will be looking to keep its post-break momentum going.
If Pritchard keeps producing like this, and if Tatum makes his way back into the fold, the Celtics could be gearing up for a serious postseason run. This team has already shown it can weather the storm-now it’s about seeing just how high the ceiling can go.