With Kemba Walker sidelined to start the season, Celtics rookie point guard Payton Pritchard has been thrust into a major role that he’s quickly embraced.
Teammate Grant Williams called him “a vet” for the poise with which he plays, and he’s looked like one outside of a few too many run-ins with the sideline.
“Fair or unfair to him,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens said, “he’s going to have to be consistent for us to have a chance to be a good team.”
On Monday, without Walker, Marcus Smart, and Jeff Teague, the Celtics relied on Pritchard even more.