Pritchard sets NBA record as Celtics edge Nets
Kristaps Porzingis returned from an eight-game absence to score 24 points, while Payton Pritchard made history as the Boston Celtics edged the Brooklyn Nets 115-113 on Saturday.
Jayson Tatum added 20 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists for the Celtics, while Pritchard scored 22 off the bench and set an NBA record for most three-pointers in a season by a reserve player.
Latvian center Porzingis admitted he was not at full strength but found his rhythm as the game progressed.
“At first I felt a little out of rhythm,” Porzingis said. “First few shots were a bit bricky, but as the game went on I felt better and better. Happy to be back. I’m not feeling in shape yet. It has been tough these past couple weeks, but in these kinds of moments you’ve got to bite down and bring something from deep. That’s what I tried to do and I’m just happy we got the win.”
Pritchard hit his 219th three-pointer of the season in the fourth quarter to set the new record. He finished 7-of-11 from the field, 5-of-8 from beyond the arc, and made three free throws in the final 8.2 seconds to seal Boston’s 13th win in 16 games.
The Celtics improved to 49-19, sitting second in the Eastern Conference.
Elsewhere, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 points to lead Oklahoma City past Detroit 113-107, while Golden State coach Steve Kerr became the franchise’s all-time wins leader in a 97-94 victory over New York.
(Source: AFP)
