OKLAHOMA CITY — In August 2021, Celtics guard Payton Pritchard raised eyebrows when he erupted for 92 points in a Portland Pro-Am game. These matchups, of course, involve amateurs, and intense defense tends to be optional. Still, it was a massive number.
So when Pritchard missed the Celtics’ game against the Spurs on Tuesday because of neck spasms, Heat forward Bam Adebayo’s historic scoring night captivated him. Pritchard was in the locker room receiving medical treatment while he monitored Adebayo’s 83-point game on his phone.
The Heat and Adebayo — who made 20 of 43 shots, and 36 of 43 free throws — faced criticism for the manner in which they sought the stunning point total, including intentionally fouling late in the game to immediately get the ball back.
But Pritchard, for one, believes it is a mark Adebayo should take pride in.
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“Very impressive,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of controversy around it. But 83 is 83. Eighty-three is hard to score even in a pro-am … You’ve got to tip your cap.”
Dynamic duo misses out
Forward Jayson Tatum missed Thursday’s showdown against the Thunder because of scheduled Achilles injury management, and guard Derrick White was sidelined with a knee contusion he suffered during Tuesday’s loss to the Spurs.
Tatum was limited to 27 minutes in each of Boston’s last three games after missing the first 62 while rehabbing his ruptured Achilles tendon.
“Just trusting our sports science team and trainers,” coach Joe Mazzulla said. “The goal was always for him to come back. The goal is also to maintain his health as he continues to stay healthy and continues to get better. So just the trust and communication of our team.”
Backup center Nikola Vucevic remains sidelined indefinitely with a broken ring finger. Pritchard returned after missing Tuesday’s game because of neck spasms. Oklahoma City was without guard Jalen Williams (hamstring) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf).
Admiring Brown from afar
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown’s MVP-caliber campaign has caught the attention of Thunder coach Mark Daigneault.
“He’s a great player that’s having a great season,” Daigneault said. “He’s a guy that can really impose his will because of his physical profile, his mentality. He’s got great size and strength and he’ll run you over. If he gets to his spots on the floor he’s a three-level scorer, but a physical player. He brings the fight to you.”
SGA makes history
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who entered Thursday’s game tied with Wilt Chamberlain with 126 consecutive 20-point games, set the NBA record with his 127th when he notched his 20th and 21st points on a double-pump fake jumper over Baylor Scheierman with 7:04 left in the third quarter.But it was not something he hunted. Daigneault said, until recently, Gilgeous-Alexander was not even aware of the mark.
“One of the things that’s great about coaching him is how he’s able to find things in the flow of the game,” he said. “He’s not a guy you have to push a lot of buttons for. He finds the buttons on his own and he does so without disrupting the team.”
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Adam Himmelsbach can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @adamhimmelsbach.
