Peyton Pritchard burns Luka Doncic to beat Lakers at buzzer
Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard continues to prove he’s one of the NBA’s most underrated shooters as he sinks the buzzer before halftime against the Los Angeles Lakers at Cripto.com Arena on Sunday.
Jaylen Brown drove hard to the lane for the final shot, but was met by multiple defenders. With the game clock winding down, he chipped the ball to Pritchard, who shook off Luka Doncic and buried step back three from close range to give the Celtics a nine-point lead, 59-50, at halftime.
PAYTON RICHARD AGAIN 😱
Pritchard beats the buzzer in the second quarter to give the Celtics a double-digit lead over the Lakers at halftime ☘
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2026
Pritchard has a knack for making buzzers, so it was no surprise that he hit it. Remember his two half-court shots in the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks? Doncic probably yes.
Many thought Boston would just sacrifice the season, with Jayson Tatum sidelined with an Achilles injury and roster overhaul. But with Brown, Pritchard and Derrick White leading the way, the Celtics were a surprising threat in the Eastern Conference.
The 28-year-old Pritchard, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, has gotten even better with his scoring, averaging a career-best 17.4 points going into their game against the Lakers. With the extra touches he’s had in Tatum’s absence, he’s only become more confident in his game.
As of this writing, the Celtics lead the Lakers by double digits in the fourth quarter.
Pritchard has 19 points, including five 3-pointers, four rebounds and six assists off the bench.
Boston is looking for its third straight win.
2026-02-23 01:22:00
