Payton Pritchard 42 POINTS! Jaylen Brown TRIPLE DOUBLE! Celtics SHOCK Cavs
Boston Celtics gut out a narrow 117-115 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers as Payton Pritchard delivers a jaw-dropping 42-point performance. Is Joe Mazzulla finally getting the credit he deserves for keeping the team competitive through adversity? John Karalis of Boston Sports Journal breaks down a gritty Celtics victory, emphasizing Pritchard’s offensive explosion and Jaylen Brown’s leadership in racking up a triple-double while deferring to the hot hand. Key moments include Xavier Tillman’s lockdown defense in his unexpected start and Jordan Walsh’s career-highs, all while the Celtics outpace Cleveland at the free throw line—a rare sight this season.
Conversation shifts to Boston’s resilient play despite missing Derrick White and Neemias Queta, including clutch sequences from rotation players and sharp late-game execution. Karalis also explores how Mazzulla’s unconventional lineups and strategic tweaks are shaping the Celtics’ playoff outlook as challenges against the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers loom. Can Boston’s surprising depth and coaching flexibility keep their momentum rolling?
1:00 Celtics Gritty Win Recap
5:30 Payton Pritchard’s Breakout Performance
10:30 Jaylen Brown’s Triple Double & Leadership
16:00 Xavier Tillman, Walsh & Bench Impact
20:20 Joe Mazzulla’s Coaching Credit
27:00 Schedule Outlook & Team Identity
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24 Comments
People are going to tweak about this game and how it ended. But truth be told I thought it was kind of funny and fairly unlucky. Mitchel couldn’t put throw a rock in the ocean if he was swimming in it all night. All of the sudden he pours in back to back threes one of them being a fairly ridiculous shot. I’ll take my chances that 9/10 3 minutes flurries up 11 aren’t going to happen. Plus they showed some grit in that fourth quarter building that lead back up. It happens, but like I said a little unlucky and some quick shooting that happened to fall.
You can't tell me with this roster and maybe one extra big with Jayson Tatum we can't make a run. I always said with Jayson and Jaylen I like my chances with anyone in the NBA. I think we can make a push if Tatum comes back. Let's go Celtics ☘
This podcast is bigger than "The Locked on Canibalism" pod from Omicrom Persei 8?
It wasnt pretty but a wins a win. I'm glad tillman showed signs of life.
I questioned had an overextended run for San there in the 4Q where he wasnt making shots, not rebounding and not defending well. He was a net negative in the 4Q. Joe shouldvd continued giving Hugo mins or put josh in. We gave up so much unnecessary rebounds and lacked length to challenge those 3s.
I'm glad amari got some late game reps. I wouldve liked to see more mins from amari in the 2nd half.
Yes joe absolutely deserved credit for the overall philosophy and ability to get everyone's buy-in. even if i question some of his rotations and timeout calls.
Glad we finally won the FT battle. If we can just get this level of respect from the refs on a regular basis, we'd win more games.
Obviously he's one of the best coaches in the NBA.
Still a mid performance from Mazulla. They were up 20 and almost got lost.
☘️☘️👊
Over the summer I had a debate that Celtics would be the #3 seed Knicks Number #1, Detroit #2…..No clear Strong team in the east, As far as I see it, the East is still up for grabs. Trade deadline looms.
💚☘☘☘
Real fans like this team. Boston sports radio doesn’t
Simons not only creates offense when they need it while not a great defender he is fast and agile enough to disrupt people like Maxey and Garland
Has some value that way too
And with JM you either go out there and ball out or you don’t play and stay ready anyone can play any time. What’s remarkable is players seem to respond. Dont see a lot of pouting mostly cheering from the bench
Thank God, the Sixers lost last night
I just don't understand why we keep dropping these winnable games and then pulling out these harder games.
I like Jaylen is not selfish. He notice pritchard was Hot and leave the ball to him
Keon johnson?
Joe right now is just turning lemons into lemonade right now, and there's no Jayson he's a competitor screw tanking
Haters gonna hate 😏
🍀Love the “Joe Missoula, just pressing buttons” 😂
John I just think when teams in all of sports struggle, they just get weakminded and automatically want the coach fired, hear a lot from fans in sports, at times with my Dodgers as successful as they have been, when we struggle, there's fire Dave Roberts same with the Yankees, fire Boone, you mention Carlisle, how he doesn't say fire him, but I think by them coming off a finals, and knowing that they don't have Haliburton, likely fans there understand why they're struggling, cause obviously Rick and the Pacers miss him desperately and can't survive without him.
Darius garland was burnt toast by the end of the game
I was impressed with the way they played 👍☘️☘️😎
Not for a minute did I think that at the 20 game mark we would be within 1 loss of a top 10 nba win-loss record
I was at this game last night, it was a hell of an experience from start to finish, rocket arena does basketball well 👌🏾
Best part though? . We were super early and went down low for a closer look, and what do I see on the floor? THE 7UICE HIMSELF WARMING UP!💪🏽
Man, I was just frozen in awe to see one of my favorite athletes ever (who you only ever see on tv really)
RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES 🔥
Edit-oh, and I was in so much green someone leaving the browns game said to me “sheesh buddy, you’d think you’re Joe Mazulla” 😂😂😂
John, you mentioned Jaylen showing great leadership by recognizing Pritchard was hot and letting him cook. That’s the point right there.
I’m a JT fan, sneakers, jerseys, the whole thing. But I’m a realist. Been watching this team 20 years, been watching Tatum and Brown since JB was a rookie.
Thoughts on this: If you swap Jaylen for Tatum in that Cleveland game, does Pritchard drop 42? Or does Tatum get in the way? Not on purpose, but because he’s wired to get HIS shot going, to be THE guy. He would’ve forced it trying to find his rhythm instead of reading the room.
Jaylen’s different. He’s played second fiddle his whole career. He knows how to impact winning without the ball. So when Pritchard’s cooking, Jaylen’s secure enough to say ‘you got it, go.’
That’s the self-awareness Tatum needs to gain during this hiatus. Because now it’s not theory anymore, Jaylen just proved what he can do as the #1. And if Tatum comes back still thinking he has to be THE guy instead of 1a/1a? The dynamic will most likely not work for real this time. Interesting to see once he’s back, I believe he’s smart enough to see this through.