Less than a year ago, Payton Pritchard was playing a career-low 13.4 minutes in just 48 games. Limited minutes in the postseason led Pritchard to request a trade, resigning himself to a dim future in Boston.
Instead, however, something unexpected occurred in the offseason. The then-25-year-old inked a 4-year, $30 million contract extension, signaling a bid of faith for the young guard.
Now, after months of patience, Pritchard proved he’s worthy of minutes down the stretch.
In Wednesday’s 122-119 too-close-for-comfort win over the Bucks, Pritchard had 19 points off the bench, shot 7-of-11 from the field, including 5-of-8 from three with six rebounds and three assists.