Payton Pritchard hit five threes in the third quarter and scored 28 in 22 minutes, the clearest evidence yet of what happens when he hunts his own shot.
Boston's starters hold edges at center and in shooting, but Chicago's free-throw volume and rebounding are where Monday night could turn.
After a 38-point debut and a 22-point lead lost in Detroit, Boston faces the champions with four things to fix, from George's defense to Tatum's shot diet.
The Celtics re-signed Payton Pritchard to a two-year, $44.2 million extension that would make him their third-highest-paid player in 2028-29. The yearly salaries are calculated, not announced.
| Player | GP | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayson Tatum | 4 | 36.3 | 28.0 | 6.3 | 8.0 | 43.0 |
| Paul George | 4 | 31.5 | 22.3 | 6.0 | 3.5 | 47.0 |
| Payton Pritchard | 4 | 26.0 | 13.3 | 2.0 | 3.8 | 45.9 |
| Derrick White | 4 | 30.0 | 12.5 | 4.0 | 6.3 | 44.2 |
| Sam Hauser | 4 | 21.5 | 9.8 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 50.0 |
| Neemias Queta | 4 | 19.5 | 8.0 | 4.5 | 1.5 | 57.9 |
| Jordan Walsh | 4 | 18.8 | 6.0 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 45.0 |
| Mike Conley | 1 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 |
| Mitchell Robinson | 4 | 20.3 | 5.5 | 4.8 | 0.8 | 76.9 |
| Luka Garza | 4 | 9.5 | 4.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 46.2 |
| Baylor Scheierman | 4 | 17.0 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 0.8 | 33.3 |
| Hugo Gonzalez | 4 | 11.0 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 40.0 |
| Chris Cenac Jr. | 1 | 5.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 50.0 |
| Ron Harper Jr. | 1 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 25.0 |
Three centers, one closing spot. Who finishes games in April?
Paul George replaces Jaylen Brown. How does the roster and cap sheet change?
A 20-year veteran on a minimum deal. What does the second unit gain?
