Payton Pritchard continued NBA Finals heroics with another half-court buzzer-beater for Celtics
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JUNE 17: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks watch Pritchard's half court buzzer beating shot during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Payton Pritchard is quickly becoming the guy the Boston Celtics want to have the ball in his hands for the final shot.
The fourth-year rotational player from Oregon is in the midst of what has been a career year for him, and though he's only averaging a little over 20 minutes per game for the Celtics in the postseason, he's certainly making his mark on the highlight reel.
Pritchard hit a dazzling half-court buzzer-beater shot at the end of the third quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, and in a potentially decisive Game 5, he did it again as the clock expired in the first half.
According to ESPN's Malika Andrews on the broadcast, it was the longest shot in the NBA Finals in the last 25 years.
That long three gave Boston a commanding 21-point lead at halftime as it looks to close out its first NBA championship since 2008. The Mavericks won Game 4 on Friday night to avoid a sweep, but now the Celtics have a chance to end the series in front of their home crowd.
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This article originally appeared on For The Win: Payton Pritchard continued NBA Finals heroics with another half-court buzzer-beater for Celtics