In his biggest playoff game of his career yet, Boston Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard was the offensive engine that powered Boston's 128-96 road win vs. the Philadelphia 76ers in their 2026 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs first round series. The Oregon alum put up a career playoff-high 32 points and 5 assists on 12-of-21 shooting (including Pritchard going 6-of-12 from beyond the arc) to help fuel the Game 4 victory, putting the Celtics in position to close out the series in Game 5 at TD Garden next Tuesday (April 28).

"I think he's just a guy that he finds the game," said Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla after the win. "I think it's as soon as he comes in, he knows exactly what the game needs, whether it's defensively, whether it's offensive rebounding or just scoring."

"I thought our ability to defend and then get out and run got him some clean looks, and then I think he has a level of understanding when he has it going that he's a difference maker for us and he's a stabilizer of our offense," said Mazzulla. "So, I think it was a combination of both, but I think he dictates the pace for us. He did a good job of that for himself and for others tonight."

"I think that's the key is his two-way evolution," he said of Pritchard's competitive nature. "He's been on a journey since he's gotten to the NBA and he's started -- not started -- has passed up, come off the bench ... but throughout it, he's kept a level of professionalism, consistency, (and) mental toughness."

"So, we're at our best when he's aggressive and he's bought into any role that's necessary to winning and just cares about competing, cares about the right stuff."

This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Mazzulla credits Pritchard for knowing what the game needs with Celtics