Overview
- Pritchard scored 30 points off the bench in the Celtics’ 125-111 win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday, shooting 9-for-17 and adding two steals.
- That outing capped back-to-back high-scoring performances after a tentative first four games and lifted Pritchard’s scoring to about 16.6 points per game through five contests.
- Coach Joe Mazzulla publicly pushed Pritchard to improve defense and rebounding, praised his response after the game, and shared an on-court hug that both described as recognition of the improvement.
- Boston carries a four-game winning streak into Sunday’s game at Orlando and then faces a stretch with 10 of the next 13 games on the road, a schedule that raises the need for consistent two-way play.
- Pritchard’s recent form and his two-year contract extension suggest a larger role for him, and the coming road swing will reveal whether his scoring and improved defense can sustain the Celtics’ early momentum.