Struggling Washington Wizards brace for Payton Pritchard and Boston Celtics
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Payton Pritchard of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket while guarded by Marcus Sasser of the Detroit Pistons during the third quarter of a game at TD Garden on Dec 12.
PHOTO: AFP
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WASHINGTON – Backup guard Payton Pritchard has cemented himself as one of the most underrated players for National Basketball Association (NBA) champions the Boston Celtics.
He will enter a matchup with hosts Washington Wizards on Dec 15 (Dec 16, Singapore time) with averages of 16.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists across 25 games this season.
He is shooting 48.8 per cent from the field and 43.2 per cent from three-point range.
To put those figures in context, Pritchard is Boston’s fifth-leading scorer behind Jayson Tatum (28.2 points per game), Jaylen Brown (24.5), Kristaps Porzingis (20.3) and Derrick White (17.5).
“I just feel like people are playing my three-ball so heavy and obviously I shoot it from a deep range, so if they come and close out on me, it allows me to get in the paint,” he said.
“And then, obviously, I just manipulate the bigs. If they play me, I dump it off. If they don’t, I finish it. I try to make the game very simple.”
Pritchard came off the bench to hit seven threes on the way to 27 points while dishing out 10 assists during a 123-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Dec 12. He also became the 10th player in franchise history to connect on at least 500 career three-pointers.
The impressive start to the season has him as the favourite to be named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year.
“It’s not something I really think about,” the 26-year-old said of the award.
“If I’m fortunate enough to win, that’s, I guess, a testament to the hard work I put in and I think it just means that I helped this team coming off the bench and doing my job at a high level.”
Boston were without Tatum (knee) and Sam Hauser (adductor strain) for the victory over Detroit, but both took part in a team workout a day after the game.
The Wizards have the worst record in the NBA (3-20) but are coming off a spirited effort in a 115-105 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec 13, as they were within five points with less than two minutes to play.
It was Washington’s 18th loss in the past 19 games.
NBA leaders Cleveland (22-4) attempted 40 free throws in that game, 29 more than Washington.
“Our guys really played their tails off (on Friday),” Washington coach Brian Keefe said.
“We were attacking the rim, and we didn’t get the same calls. Totally inconsistent. Not right.”
Although Jordan Poole is Washington’s leading scorer (20.2 points per game), Bilal Coulibaly matched his career high by scoring 27 points – 14.5 more than his season average – in the loss to Cleveland. He tossed in a career-high five three-pointers.
The Wizards have also been getting significant offensive contributions from Justin Champagnie, who has started the past three games and averaged 17.7 points and 8.0 rebounds during that stretch.
Boston are 2-0 against Washington this season, with both wins coming on the road. The Wizards, who are 2-10 at home this season, have lost their past six meetings with the Celtics. REUTERS
