BOSTON — Payton Pritchard scored a career-high 43 points and knocked down a career-best 10 3-pointers to lead the short-handed Boston Celtics past the Portland Trail Blazers 128-118 on Wednesday night.
Derrick White added career highs with 41 points and nine 3s to help propel Boston to its eighth victory in 10 games, making Pritchard and White the first Celtics duo to score 40 or more points in the same game.
They also became the first pair of teammates in NBA history to each record their first career 40-point game in the same game and the first duo in NBA history with nine or more 3-pointers each in a game.
With starters Jayson Tatum (shoulder), Jrue Holiday (finger) and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) all sitting out, Pritchard picked up the scoring load for a Celtics team that made 23 3-pointers.
“They were tremendous,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “With guys out and playing against a really good Portland team, I knew we were going to need to have guys step up. And the way those two played just shows a lot about who they are. You know, they do a lot of the dirty stuff when we’re fully healthy. They do a lot of the things, you know, for the team. And to have a night like this where those two can show what they’re capable of was big for us.”
Pritchard, who also contributed 10 rebounds and 5 assists, became the first player to record at least 40 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in a game off the bench since starters were first tracked in 1970-71. His 10 3-pointers tied for the second most in a game in Celtics history and gave him his 20th game this season with at least five 3s, a first in Celtics history.
White became the first player in Celtics history with at least four 3s in six straight games, breaking a tie with Tatum, Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas.
“It’s a great gift as a coach to know when you have guys out, you still feel like the expectation is to win because of the type of people that you have,” Mazzulla said.
The game remained tight throughout the first half, featuring five ties and 15 lead changes. But Boston outscored the Blazers 36-27 in the third quarter.
Anfernee Simons led Portland with 30 points, and Shaedon Sharpe added 25.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
