Boston’s spark plug continues career year while stepping up with Jayson Tatum sidelined.
The Boston Celtics have spent much of this season proving their depth is more than just a talking point, and Thursday night at Chase Center offered another reminder of just how real that strength is.
In a game that quickly turned lopsided, Payton Pritchard found himself at the center of the spotlight - not just for his scoring punch, but for a milestone that further cemented his place in franchise history.
With Boston rolling against the Golden State Warriors, Pritchard drilled the shot that pushed him past Ray Allen for sixth place on the Celtics’ all-time 3-pointers list, a fitting moment on a night when the ball seemed to find the bottom of the net at will for the visitors (and the home team, for that matter).
It’s the kind of benchmark that says as much about longevity and trust as it does about shooting ability, and it underscores just how far Pritchard has come since carving out his role as a spark plug off the bench.
The former Oregon standout entered the night needing just one three to tie Allen, already sitting at 797 makes in his Celtics career. By the end of the evening, he stood alone in sixth, another chapter in what has quietly become one of the more reliable offensive resumes on the roster.
Feb 19, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors center Kristaps Porzingis (left) shares a laugh with Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) following their game at Chase Center. (D. Ross Cameron/Imagn Images)At 28 years old and under contract through the summer of 2028, Pritchard looks poised to keep climbing, with Marcus Smart’s total of 911 sitting next on the horizon and Paul Pierce’s franchise-record 1,823 serving as the ultimate long-term target.
What makes this stretch particularly notable is the context. With Jayson Tatum sidelined, Pritchard has been asked to shoulder more responsibility, and he’s answered with the most productive season of his career.
Through his first 53 games of the 2025-26 campaign, he’s averaging a career-best 17.2 points to go along with 4.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists, while knocking down 2.6 threes per game. The increased defensive attention hasn’t slowed him much, a testament to the confidence he’s built within Boston’s system.
It’s also another example of the Celtics’ ability to generate offense from multiple spots on the floor, something that has defined their success even while navigating injuries.
On a roster filled with stars and established veterans, Pritchard continues to carve out his niche as a steady, fearless scorer who can swing momentum in a hurry.
Thursday night was about more than a blowout win - it was about a player who has steadily grown into a bigger piece of the picture, one three-pointer at a time.
Feb 19, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Warriors defenders Kristaps Porzingis (7) and De'Anthony Melton (8) double-team Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. (D. Ross Cameron/Imagn Images)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.