Celtics Backup Guard Pritchard Shines in Brown's Absence

Pritchard's big game leads Celtics to victory over Hawks as they prepare to face Hornets

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:25pm

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The Boston Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks 109-102 on Friday night, with backup point guard Payton Pritchard stepping up in the absence of leading scorer Jaylen Brown. Pritchard scored a game-high 36 points, including six 3-pointers, and also contributed 7 rebounds and 4 assists. The Celtics have won 6 of their last 7 games and are in second place in the Eastern Conference. They now turn their attention to a matchup with the Charlotte Hornets, who are led by the league's top 3-point shooter, rookie Kon Knueppel.

Why it matters

Pritchard's performance highlights the Celtics' depth and ability to win games even when key players are out. The Celtics' success without Brown could be crucial as they jockey for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference. The matchup with the Hornets, who have one of the league's most prolific 3-point shooting attacks, will test the Celtics' defense.

The details

Pritchard stepped up in a big way for the Celtics, scoring a game-high 36 points and making 6 3-pointers. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and dished out 4 assists. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla praised Pritchard's all-around game, noting his ball handling, offensive rebounding, and 'big-time plays' that helped secure the win. The Celtics have now won 6 of their last 7 games as they prepare to face the Hornets, who are led by rookie 3-point marksman Kon Knueppel.

  • The Celtics defeated the Hawks on Friday night.
  • The Celtics will face the Hornets on Sunday night.

The players

Payton Pritchard

The Boston Celtics' backup point guard who had a standout performance against the Hawks, scoring 36 points with 6 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Jaylen Brown

The Celtics' leading scorer this season who missed Friday's game against the Hawks due to Achilles tendinitis.

Jayson Tatum

The Celtics' star forward who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Hornets as he continues to manage his recovery from Achilles surgery.

Kon Knueppel

The Charlotte Hornets' rookie who leads the NBA in made 3-pointers this season.

LaMelo Ball

The Hornets' star guard who is third in the NBA in made 3-pointers this season.

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What they’re saying

“The points are one thing, but I thought the ball handling, handling the pressure, the offensive rebounding -- he had two offensive rebounds in the second half there that were huge for us. So it's just those big-time plays.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics Head Coach

“It's just winning basketball. I want to win, so obviously, you want to make a play. You see somebody shoot the ball and I see it coming off the rim, and just fighting, trying to get an extra possession. Those little things can change the game and win a game.”

— Payton Pritchard, Boston Celtics Guard

“In that fourth quarter especially, our defensive focus started to wane a little bit as we were missing shots. The guys did a good job the last few games of not letting that be the case, ever. Our shot-making can't affect our defense.”

— Charles Lee, Charlotte Hornets Head Coach

What’s next

The Celtics will need to continue to manage the workload of Jayson Tatum as he returns from Achilles surgery. The team will also monitor the status of Jaylen Brown's Achilles injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Hornets.

The takeaway

The Celtics' depth and ability to win games without their top scorers has been a key factor in their success this season. Payton Pritchard's standout performance against the Hawks showcases the team's versatility and resilience, which will be crucial as they prepare for a tough matchup with the high-powered Hornets offense.