Payton Pritchard Erupts for 42 as Celtics Survive Late Cavaliers Rally
In a game that nearly slipped through their fingers, the Boston Celtics leaned on an unlikely hero and a late burst of composure to edge the Cleveland Cavaliers 117-115 on Sunday night. Payton Pritchard, stepping into a starring role, dropped a season-high 42 points to help Boston withstand a furious fourth-quarter rally from the Cavs and preserve what was once a 21-point lead.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t just a hot night from a bench scorer. Pritchard was the engine, the closer, and everything in between.
He hit big shots when Boston desperately needed them and calmly knocked down two clutch free throws with 5.9 seconds left to give the Celtics a four-point cushion. That margin proved just enough.
Cleveland didn’t go quietly. Down 11 with under two minutes to play, Donovan Mitchell-quiet for most of the night-suddenly caught fire.
He drilled back-to-back threes in a span of seconds, slicing Boston’s lead to 114-112 with just 20.5 seconds remaining. The Cavs had life.
After Pritchard’s free throws, Darius Garland answered with a deep three of his own, pulling Cleveland within one with 1.2 seconds left. That set up a frantic finish. Jaylen Brown was fouled on the inbounds pass and hit one of two from the line, giving the Cavs a final possession with a chance to steal the win.
But Evan Mobley’s contested jumper at the buzzer came up short, and the Celtics exhaled.
Brown, playing the role of facilitator more than scorer on this night, recorded his fourth career triple-double with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists. It was a strong all-around bounce-back after he poured in 41 points in a loss to Minnesota the night before.
Boston also got a major lift from rookie Jordan Walsh, who posted career highs with 14 points and 11 rebounds. With Jayson Tatum still sidelined and both Derrick White (calf) and Neemias Queta (ankle) resting, the Celtics needed contributions from their depth-and they got them.
Cleveland wasn’t at full strength either. The Cavs were missing a host of key players, including Jarrett Allen (finger), Larry Nance Jr. (hand), Lonzo Ball (knee), and Sam Merrill (hand). Despite the shorthanded roster, they nearly pulled off the comeback, thanks largely to Mobley’s 27-point, 14-rebound effort and Garland’s 21 points.
Mitchell, who came in averaging 30 a night, was held to just 18-most of which came during that late push. Boston’s defense kept him in check for three quarters, but when the game tightened, he showed why he’s one of the league’s most dangerous closers.
In the end, though, this night belonged to Pritchard. He didn’t just fill in-he took over. And for a Celtics team navigating injuries and back-to-back games, his performance couldn’t have come at a better time.