Then the third quarter happened.

And then Deandre Ayton happened — specifically, his right elbow. And then Kevin Durant happened — specifically, his left hand waving goodbye from the Rockets’ bench.

What started as a potential coronation for the Lakers turned into a full-blown disaster. The Houston Rockets, down 3-0 and playing for their playoff lives, blew out the Lakers 115-96 to force a Game 5 back in Los Angeles. But the final score doesn’t tell the full story. The real story happened midway through the third quarter, when the game — and the Lakers’ composure — completely unraveled.

With the Rockets leading 76-57, Lakers center Deandre Ayton raised his elbow and caught Houston’s Alperen Şengün in the head. The officials reviewed the play. And then they delivered the hammer: Flagrant 2. Ejection. Ayton was done for the night.

And from the Rockets’ bench, Kevin Durant — still in street clothes, still nursing that sprained ankle, still unable to play — couldn’t resist. He waved goodbye.

The internet exploded. The Lakers fumed. The Rockets cruised. And now, a series that looked like a formality is suddenly very, very interesting.

Let’s break down the ejection, the taunt, and why this Game 5 might be the most important game of the Lakers’ season.

Part 1: The Ejection — What Actually Happened

Let’s start with the play itself. Midway through the third quarter, with the Lakers already in a deep hole, Deandre Ayton was battling Alperen Şengün in the post. Ayton raised his arm to brace for contact — or so he claimed — and his elbow made contact with Şengün’s head.

The whistle blew. The officials huddled. They went to the monitor. And then they made the call: Flagrant 2, automatic ejection.

For those unfamiliar with NBA rules, a Flagrant 2 is defined as “unnecessary and excessive contact.” It doesn’t require intent. It doesn’t require malice. It just requires the officials to believe that the contact was both unnecessary and excessive. On Sunday night, that’s exactly what they saw.

Ayton’s reaction? Disbelief. He argued. He gestured. He pointed at the scoreboard, perhaps suggesting that there was no reason for him to intentionally hurt anyone in a game his team was losing badly. But the officials didn’t budge. Ayton walked to the locker room, his night over.

At the time of his ejection, Ayton was having a monster game. In just 25 minutes, he had put up 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting, plus 10 rebounds. He was the Lakers’ leading scorer. He was their best player on a night when LeBron James was struggling (10 points, 8 turnovers). And then he was gone.

Part 2: The Wave — Durant’s Troll Job for the Ages

Here’s where the night went from frustrating to viral.

As Ayton walked off the court, the Toyota Center cameras caught Kevin Durant sitting on the Rockets’ bench. Durant — the future Hall of Famer, the 15-time All-Star, the man who hasn’t played since Game 2 because of an ankle injury — raised his left hand and waved goodbye to Ayton.

The gesture was unmistakable. It was a wave. A sarcastic, joyful, “thanks for playing” wave. And it was immediately clipped, screenshotted, and shared across every social media platform on earth.

Hoop Central posted the video on X with the caption: “Kevin Durant waved goodbye after the Ayton ejection. ”

The reaction was predictable. Lakers fans called it classless. Rockets fans called it hilarious. Neutral fans called it incredible theater. And Durant, who has built a reputation as one of the most polarizing players in NBA history, added another chapter to his legend.

Love him or hate him, you have to admit: waving goodbye to an ejected opposing center while you’re sitting on the bench in street clothes is an all-time troll move. Durant wasn’t even playing. He was a spectator. And yet, he found a way to get under the Lakers’ skin.

Part 3: The Context — Why This Matters for the Series

Now, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture.

Before Game 4, this series felt like a formality. The Lakers, despite missing Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, had stormed to a 3-0 lead. LeBron James had played 45 minutes in Game 3 and looked like his old self. The Rockets, meanwhile, were missing Kevin Durant for most of the series and looked lost without him.

Then came Game 4. And suddenly, everything changed.

The Rockets played with desperation. They attacked. They defended. They built a 19-point lead by halftime and never looked back. And when Ayton was ejected, any hope of a Lakers comeback evaporated.

Now the series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 5 on Wednesday night. The Lakers still lead 3-1. They still have two chances to close it out. But the momentum has shifted. The Rockets believe. And Durant — the man who waved goodbye from the bench — might actually be getting closer to a return.

Part 4: The Ayton Factor — How Big of a Loss Was He?

Let’s not minimize what the Lakers lost when Ayton walked off the court.

In 25 minutes of Game 4, Ayton was the best player on the floor for Los Angeles. Nineteen points on 9-of-12 shooting. Ten rebounds. A double-double in limited minutes. He was scoring efficiently, rebounding aggressively, and providing the rim protection that the Lakers desperately need.

When he was ejected, the Lakers’ frontcourt became Jaxson Hayes and a collection of role players. That’s not a winning formula against a desperate Houston team that has nothing to lose.

If the Lakers are going to close out this series in Game 5, they need Ayton on the floor. Not just for his production, but for his presence. He’s the only big man on the roster who can match up physically with Houston’s frontcourt. Without him, the Lakers are small, vulnerable, and exposed.

Part 5: The Durant Question — Will He Play in Game 5?

Here’s the subplot that should terrify Lakers fans.

Kevin Durant has been sidelined since Game 2 with a sprained ankle. He sat on the bench in street clothes for Games 3 and 4, watching his team fight for their lives. And on Sunday night, he waved goodbye to Ayton with the confidence of a man who knows he’s coming back.

The Rockets haven’t ruled Durant out for Game 5. They’ve been vague about his timeline. But if Houston can extend the series to Game 6 — or even Game 7 — there’s a real chance that Durant returns.

And if Durant returns? The entire dynamic of this series changes.

Remember Game 2? Durant played. He was effective. And even though the Lakers won, Durant showed flashes of his old self. A healthy Durant — even a 75-percent healthy Durant — changes everything for Houston. He gives them a closer. He gives them a floor spacer. He gives them a player who can create his own shot when the offense stalls.

The Rockets are fighting to stay alive. They’re fighting to give Durant time to heal. And if they succeed? The Lakers might find themselves in a much longer series than anyone expected.

Part 6: The Lakers’ Response — Can They Regain Their Composure?

Let’s be honest: The Lakers lost their cool in Game 4.

LeBron James played one of the worst playoff games of his career (10 points, 8 turnovers). Ayton got himself ejected. Adou Thiero got tossed in the fourth quarter. The team committed 23 turnovers and shot 22 percent from three-point range. It was a complete meltdown.

But here’s the good news for Lakers fans: Game 5 is at home.

Crypto.com Arena will be rocking on Wednesday night. The Lakers have a chance to close out the series in front of their own fans. LeBron James has a chance to respond to his worst game with a masterpiece — which is exactly what he’s done his entire career.

The key for the Lakers is simple: keep their composure. No more cheap ejections. No more careless turnovers. No more letting the Rockets get under their skin. Protect home court. End the series. Rest up for OKC.

If they do that, the Durant wave will be nothing more than a footnote. A funny moment in a series that ended in five games.

But if they don’t? If the Rockets steal Game 5? If Durant returns for Game 6?

Then that wave goodbye might be aimed at the Lakers’ season.

Kevin Durant waved goodbye to Deandre Ayton on Sunday night. It was petty. It was hilarious. It was vintage Durant — the unbothered, cold-blooded assassin who lives for moments like this.

But the wave wasn’t just about Ayton. It was about the series. It was a message from a superstar who isn’t done yet, from a team that refuses to quit, from a Rockets squad that just forced Game 5 against all odds.

The Lakers still lead 3-1. They’re still the better team. They’re still heading home for Wednesday night’s closeout opportunity. But the sweep is gone. The rest is delayed. And the questions are starting to pile up.

Can LeBron bounce back? Can Ayton keep his elbows in check? Can the Lakers regain their composure? And most importantly — will Kevin Durant be waving hello to his teammates on the court in Game 5, or goodbye to the Lakers’ season?

We don’t know yet. But we’re about to find out.

Wednesday night. Crypto.com Arena. Game 5. The wave has been sent. Now it’s time for the response.

But on Sunday night at the Toyota Center, the impossible finally happened.

LeBron James looked human.

The Los Angeles Lakers’ 41-year-old superstar finished Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets with a stat line that would make a rookie blush — for all the wrong reasons. Ten points. Four rebounds. Nine assists. And eight — yes, eight — turnovers. He shot 2-of-9 from the field. He missed all three of his three-point attempts. He was minus-15 in plus/minus. And the Lakers got blown out, 115-96.

The series is still 3-1. The Lakers are still one win away from advancing. But Sunday night was a reminder that even the greatest of all time has off nights. And the NBA world had plenty to say about it.

From Skip Bayless’s sarcastic jab to StatMuse’s historical context to fans questioning whether LeBron is finally running out of gas, the reactions poured in faster than the Rockets’ fast breaks. Let’s dive into the best (and worst) of what people were saying, break down what actually happened, and ask the question that no one wants to ask: Is LeBron James finally showing his age?

Part 1: The Stat Line That Shook the Internet

Let’s start with the numbers, because they’re almost unbelievable.

LeBron James in Game 4:

10 points — his lowest playoff scoring output since 2014

8 turnovers — tied for the worst playoff performance of his career

2-of-9 shooting — including 0-of-3 from deep

33 minutes — fewer than his Game 3 marathon (45 minutes)

Plus/minus: -15

StatMuse dropped the hammer with a tweet that put everything in perspective:

“LeBron in Game 4 vs Houston: 10 PTS, 9 AST (8 TOV), 2-9 FG, 0-3 3P. Back-to-back playoff games with 8 TOV for the first time in his career.”

Back-to-back games with eight turnovers. For the first time. In 22 years. Let that sink in. LeBron James has played nearly 300 playoff games. He has faced every defense imaginable. He has been double-teamed, trapped, hacked, and harassed. And never — until now — had he committed eight turnovers in consecutive playoff games.

That’s not a blip. That’s a pattern. And it’s a pattern that should worry the Lakers, even if they’re still up 3-1.

Part 2: The Skip Bayless Special — A Jab Wrapped in a Compliment

Of course, no LeBron bad game is complete without a tweet from Skip Bayless. The longtime LeBron critic — turned reluctant admirer — couldn’t resist taking a shot.

“LeBron only 2-9 and 0-3 from 3??? I guess the Longevity King was saving himself for the close-out Game 5 Wednesday night back at the Crypt.”

Classic Skip. He acknowledges the longevity — calls him the “Longevity King” — but immediately pivots to sarcasm. The implication? LeBron wasn’t tired. He wasn’t bad. He was “saving himself.” It’s a backhanded compliment wrapped in a critique, and it’s exactly what you’d expect from the man who built his career on LeBron hot takes.

Love him or hate him, Skip knows how to get a reaction. And his tweet — calling Crypto.com Arena “the Crypt” — was designed to do exactly that.

Part 3: The “Bronny” Joke — Twitter’s Cruelest Punchline

The low blow of the night came from the Real App, which posted:

“LeBron & Bronny both made the same number of shots tonight ”

For context, Bronny James is not in the NBA. He’s a college player at USC. He didn’t play on Sunday night. That’s the joke. LeBron made two shots. Bronny made zero shots because he wasn’t playing. They made the same number.

It’s cruel. It’s funny. And it perfectly captures how Twitter reacts when a legend stumbles. No respect for résumés. No respect for championships. Just pure, unfiltered chaos.

Part 4: The “Gassed” Narrative — Is LeBron Finally Running Out of Gas?

Several observers pointed out what their eyes were telling them: LeBron looked tired.

Anthony F. Irwin put it bluntly:

“LeBron looked completely gassed tonight and this roster just doesn’t have the firepower to compensate—time to reset and focus on closing this out in Game 5.”

Let’s examine that claim. LeBron played 45 minutes in Game 3 — an overtime thriller that went down to the wire. He carried the Lakers without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. He was spectacular. But then he had to turn around and play Game 4 just two days later, on the road, against a desperate Houston team that was playing for its season.

At 41, recovery takes longer. The legs don’t bounce back the way they used to. The mental focus — the ability to lock in for 40-plus minutes — becomes harder to sustain.

Sam Block offered a different perspective, defending LeBron:

“When LeBron James has an off night… his team has no chance of winning the game. Any team demanding that much from a 41-year-old athlete is absolutely insane. The GOAT always shows his massive value.”

Block’s point is valid. The Lakers’ offense is built around LeBron. When he’s good, they’re good. When he’s bad — like Sunday night — they’re completely helpless. That’s not a knock on LeBron. That’s a knock on the roster construction. No 41-year-old should be this irreplaceable.

Part 5: The Historical Context — 3,000 Playoff Field Goals

Amid all the negativity, Tim Reynolds offered a reminder of just how great LeBron has been:

“LeBron James just got the 3,000th playoff field goal of his career.”

Three thousand. Playoff field goals. That is an absurd number. For context, Michael Jordan finished his playoff career with 2,188 field goals. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 2,356. LeBron is in a category of his own.

But here’s the thing about milestones: they happen in the middle of games. They don’t stop the action. They don’t excuse a bad performance. LeBron reached 3,000 playoff field goals on Sunday night — and his team still lost by 19 points.

It’s a testament to his greatness. It’s also a reminder that even the greats have nights when nothing works.

Part 6: The Coaching Question — Should LeBron Have Sat?

Sam Quinn raised an interesting point about minutes management:

“Get LeBron outta here, JJ. You’re down 20+ going into the fourth, and after what happened to Luka when the Lakers kept him in the OKC blowout too long, you’d hope they’d learn their lesson about this.”

Quinn is referring to an incident earlier in the season when the Lakers left Luka Dončić in a blowout loss against Oklahoma City, and Dončić suffered an injury that kept him out of the playoffs. The lesson: when the game is out of reach, protect your stars.

On Sunday night, the Lakers were down 20+ heading into the fourth quarter. The game was over. And yet, LeBron stayed on the court for several more minutes. Why? What was the point?

JJ Redick, the Lakers’ head coach, has been praised for his tactical acumen all season. But on Sunday night, leaving LeBron in a lost cause felt like a mistake. Every minute matters at 41. Every unnecessary minute is a risk.

Part 7: The Big Picture — One Bad Game Doesn’t End a Series

Here’s the most important takeaway from Sunday night: the Lakers still lead 3-1.

Yes, LeBron was terrible. Yes, the turnovers were unacceptable. Yes, the shooting was abysmal. But the Lakers have two chances to close out this series — Game 5 at home on Wednesday night, and Game 6 back in Houston if necessary.

LeBron has a history of responding to bad games. When he plays poorly, he almost always follows it up with a masterpiece. That’s what the greats do. That’s what the GOAT does.

Expect a very different LeBron James on Wednesday night. Expect a very different Lakers team. And expect the series to end in Los Angeles.

Sunday night was ugly. There’s no sugarcoating it. LeBron James played one of the worst playoff games of his legendary career. He turned the ball over eight times. He scored only 10 points. He looked tired, frustrated, and — for the first time in a long time — beatable.

The NBA world reacted with the full force of its collective keyboard. Skip Bayless took his shot. StatMuse provided the cold, hard numbers. The Real App made the cruel joke about Bronny. And fans everywhere asked the same question: Is LeBron finally showing his age?

Maybe. Or maybe it was just one bad night. One off night in a career full of masterpieces. One stumble in a series that the Lakers still lead 3-1.

LeBron himself didn’t make excuses. He took the blame. He called his turnovers “unacceptable.” And he promised to be better on Wednesday night.

That’s all you can ask for. Not perfection. Not immortality. Just accountability and a promise to respond.

Game 5 is Wednesday in Los Angeles. The Lakers have a chance to close out the Rockets and rest before facing the top-seeded OKC Thunder. LeBron has a chance to remind everyone why he’s the greatest of all time.

And if he does? Sunday night will be forgotten. Just another bad game in a career full of unforgettable greatness.

But if he doesn’t? If the turnovers continue? If the Lakers stumble again?

Then the questions will get much, much louder.

For now, though, give LeBron the benefit of the doubt. He’s earned it. Twenty-two years of excellence will do that.

See you Wednesday, LeBron. The world will be watching.

Sunday night at the Toyota Center was supposed to be a coronation. The Los Angeles Lakers, up 3-0 in their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, had a chance to sweep, rest, and prepare for the next round. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves were still sidelined, but the role players had stepped up. LeBron had been spectacular. The script was written.

Someone forgot to hand the script to the Rockets.

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Houston demolished the Lakers, 115-96, forcing a Game 5 back in Los Angeles on Wednesday night. And while the Lakers still hold a commanding 3-1 series lead, Sunday night was a disaster from start to finish.

LeBron James: 10 points, 9 assists, 8 turnovers. That’s not a typo. Eight turnovers. He shot 2-of-9 from the field. He looked tired, frustrated, and — for the first time all series — human.

DeAndre Ayton: Ejected in the third quarter for a high elbow that he insisted was accidental. The referees disagreed.

Adou Thiero: Tossed in the fourth quarter after a tussle with Houston’s Aaron Holiday. Both were ejected. LeBron was “pissed off.”

The Lakers as a team: 23 turnovers. 5-of-22 from three-point range (22.7 percent). Out-rebounded. Out-hustled. Out-everything.

So no, Sunday night was not one of LeBron James’ finer efforts. But as the 41-year-old icon said afterward, the real problem wasn’t defense. It was a word he’s used before: kryptonite.

“Obviously we know coming into the series we have to protect the ball against them, not have too many pick-sixes,” James said. “Which we did, all night. That started with me, obviously, my turnovers were unacceptable.”

Let’s break down exactly what went wrong, why LeBron is taking the blame, and whether the Lakers should be worried heading into Game 5.

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Part 1: The LeBron Stat Line That Will Haunt Him

Let’s start with the man himself. LeBron James, at 41 years old, has been defying Father Time all season. He played 45 minutes in Game 3. He carried the Lakers to a 3-0 lead without Dončić and Reaves. He looked like a top-five player in the world.

Then came Game 4.

10 points — his lowest playoff scoring output since 2014.

8 turnovers — a playoff career-high that he’ll want to forget.

2-of-9 shooting — including 0-of-3 from deep.

Minus-15 in plus/minus.

This was not the LeBron James who dominated Games 1 through 3. This was a version of LeBron that Lakers fans haven’t seen in years: hesitant, sloppy, and uncharacteristically careless with the basketball.

To his credit, LeBron didn’t make excuses. He didn’t blame the refs. He didn’t blame Ayton’s ejection or Thiero’s toss. He blamed himself.

“That started with me, obviously, my turnovers were unacceptable.”

That’s leadership. That’s accountability. But leadership and accountability don’t win playoff games. Ball security does. And on Sunday night, LeBron’s eight turnovers were like eight daggers into the Lakers’ chances.

Part 2: The “Pick-Six” Epidemic — 23 Turnovers Is Suicide

LeBron used a football term to describe what went wrong: pick-sixes. In the NBA context, he meant live-ball turnovers that turn into fast-break points the other way.

The Lakers committed 23 turnovers total. Twenty-three. In a playoff game. Against a desperate team playing for its season.

Here’s why that’s a death sentence: The Rockets are an athletic, transition-happy team. They thrive on chaos. Every time the Lakers threw the ball away, Houston sprinted the other way, and suddenly a half-court game turned into a track meet.

The Lakers couldn’t keep up. Not on Sunday night.

LeBron’s eight turnovers were the headliner, but the entire team was careless. passes sailed out of bounds. Dribbles bounced off feet. Offensive players ran into each other. It was the kind of sloppy performance that usually happens in November, not in a playoff closeout game.

The Rockets turned those 23 turnovers into what felt like a hundred fast-break points. The actual number? Enough to make the game a blowout by halftime.

Part 3: The Ayton Ejection — Accidental or Intentional?

Let’s talk about the moment that shifted the game’s momentum — and possibly LeBron’s mood.

Midway through the third quarter, with the Lakers already trailing, DeAndre Ayton raised his elbow and caught Rockets big man Alperen Şengün in the head. The whistle blew. The referees huddled. And then came the ejection.

LeBron was stunned.

“I know what I saw. I thought he was bracing for Şengün on the post-up. Elbow, getting ready for the physical contact and then his arm slipped and hit him in the head. The refs said they didn’t see it that way and they made the call. But you gotta be pretty damn good to just elbow somebody like that on purpose.”

Translation: LeBron believes Ayton. He thinks it was an accident. He thinks the referees got it wrong.

But here’s the problem: Ayton has a reputation. He’s not a dirty player, but he’s also not known for his subtlety. When a 7-footer raises his elbow to head level, referees are going to assume the worst — especially in a playoff game where tensions are high.

Was it the right call? That depends on which jersey you’re wearing. Lakers fans will say no. Rockets fans will say yes. The only thing everyone agrees on is that it changed the game. Without Ayton, the Lakers lost their rim protector. Without Ayton, the Lakers’ already-thin frontcourt became even thinner.

Part 4: The Thiero Ejection — “Pissed Off” and “Made No Sense”

If the Ayton ejection was controversial, the Adou Thiero ejection was downright confusing.

In the fourth quarter, with the game effectively over, Thiero and Houston’s Aaron Holiday got into a tangle. Pushing. Shoving. The kind of scuffle that happens in every other NBA game. Both players were ejected.

LeBron’s reaction?

“Pissed off. Made no sense.”

He’s right to be frustrated. In a normal game, that’s a double technical. Both players get a stern warning from the referees, and the game continues. Instead, the officials decided to send both to the locker room early.

For a Lakers team that was already shorthanded without Dončić and Reaves, losing two rotation players in one night — even in a losing effort — is salt in the wound.

Part 5: The Shooting Disaster — 5-for-22 From Deep

Let’s not let the turnovers and ejections distract from another ugly number: the Lakers shot 5-of-22 from three-point range. That’s 22.7 percent. In a league where three-point shooting is oxygen, the Lakers were suffocating.

Here’s the breakdown:

LeBron James: 0-for-3

The rest of the team: 5-for-19

Some of those misses were contested. Some were wide open. Some hit the rim, bounced around, and teased the Lakers before falling out. It was that kind of night — the kind where nothing falls, no matter how hard you try.

The Rockets, meanwhile, weren’t exactly sharpshooters. But they got to the free-throw line 31 times, converting 25 of them. The Lakers? Only 21 attempts. That’s a 10-possession swing, and in a game decided by 19 points, that’s the ballgame.

Part 6: The Bigger Picture — Should Lakers Fans Be Worried?

Here’s the good news: The Lakers still lead the series 3-1. They’re still one win away from advancing to the second round. They’ll play Game 5 at home on Wednesday night, where the crowd will be rocking and the purple and gold will have a chance to close it out.

Here’s the bad news: The Lakers have now played four games without Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. The minutes are piling up. LeBron logged 45 minutes in Game 3 and looked gassed in Game 4. The role players who stepped up in Games 1-3 — who were the reason the Lakers had a 3-0 lead — disappeared on Sunday night.

And here’s the scariest part: The Rockets are still without Kevin Durant. He hasn’t played since Game 2. If Durant returns for Game 5 or Game 6, the series could get very interesting very quickly.

LeBron knows this. That’s why he was so frustrated after the game. A sweep would have given the Lakers a full week of rest before facing the top-seeded OKC Thunder in the second round. Now, at minimum, they have to play Game 5. And if the Rockets steal another one in Los Angeles, suddenly a 3-0 lead becomes a 3-2 nail-biter.

That said, panic would be an overreaction. The Lakers are still in control. LeBron is still LeBron. And Wednesday night, at Crypto.com Arena, expect a very different version of the Lakers — and a very different version of LeBron James.

Sunday night was ugly. There’s no other way to describe it.

LeBron James turned the ball over eight times. DeAndre Ayton was ejected for an elbow that might have been an accident. Adou Thiero was tossed in a meaningless fourth-quarter scuffle. The Lakers shot 22 percent from three and committed 23 turnovers. It was a perfect storm of bad basketball, bad officiating, and bad luck.

But here’s the thing about the NBA playoffs: One bad night doesn’t end a series. The Lakers still lead 3-1. They’re still the better team. And they’re still going home to Los Angeles with a chance to advance.

LeBron took the blame afterward. He called his turnovers “unacceptable.” He said the team would do better on Wednesday. And when LeBron James says something like that, you’d be wise to believe him.

The Rockets fought hard. They earned their win. They forced a Game 5. But if the Lakers protect the ball — keep it out of Houston’s hands in transition — and avoid the chaotic stretches that plagued them on Sunday night, this series will end on Wednesday.

And if it doesn’t? Then the questions will get much, much louder.

But for now, consider Sunday night an aberration. A stumble. A reminder that even legends have off nights. The Lakers will be fine. LeBron will be fine. And Game 5 is going to be must-see TV.

Payton Pritchard has that.

The Boston Celtics’ 6-foot-1 point guard, a man who looks like he could be your neighbor mowing his lawn on a Saturday morning, just turned the Wells Fargo Center (sorry, Xfinity Mobile Arena) into his personal playground. In Game 4 of the first-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Pritchard came off the bench and absolutely eviscerated the home team.

The final score: Celtics 128, 76ers 96. A 32-point demolition.

The Pritchard line: 32 points (playoff career-high), 6 three-pointers, 34 minutes off the bench, and one unforgettable exchange with Hall of Famer Reggie Miller.

Let’s break down how the smallest guy on the floor became the biggest story of the night, why his confidence is infectious, and why the Sixers should be terrified heading into Game 5.

Part 1: The Moment — A Logo Three and a Hall of Famer’s Ears

Let’s set the scene. First quarter. Game 4. The Celtics already lead the series 2-1, but a win on the road would put Philly on life support. The Xfinity Mobile Arena is loud. The Sixers are fighting. And then Payton Pritchard checks in.

With just under four minutes left in the first quarter, Pritchard catches the ball near the half-court logo. Not near the three-point line. Near the logo. Defenders are giving him space — because who expects a bench player to launch from there?

Pritchard launches. Swish.

But here’s the part that makes this story legendary. Right in Pritchard’s field of view, sitting courtside as a commentator, is Hall of Famer Reggie Miller. Reggie Miller — the man who once scored 8 points in 9 seconds, the man who made a career out of trash-talking, the man who literally choked himself unconscious on the sideline to hype himself up.

And Pritchard? He looked right at Miller and let him have it.

“I get going off that,” Pritchard revealed postgame. “And I probably use it to my advantage to get going even more.”

Translation: A Hall of Famer’s presence doesn’t intimidate him. It fuels him.

Part 2: The Numbers — 32 Points, 6 Threes, and a Place in Celtics History

Let’s talk stats, because Pritchard’s box score is absurd.

32 points — a playoff career-high for the 2024-25 Sixth Man of the Year.

6 three-pointers — the same number the ENTIRE 76ers team made in Game 4.

34 minutes off the bench — essentially a starter’s workload, but with the luxury of coming in fresh against tired legs.

1 offensive rebound — at halftime, the Sixers had zero offensive rebounds. Pritchard had one. He’s 6’1″. In a crowd of giants.

Here’s the kicker: Pritchard was just 2 points shy of tying Hall of Famer Kevin McHale for the most points by a bench player in a postseason game in Celtics history. Think about that. Kevin McHale — 6’10”, legendary post moves, one of the greatest power forwards ever. Payton Pritchard — 6’1″, looks like a high school math teacher, just knocked on McHale’s door.

That’s not a typo. That’s history.

Part 3: The Confidence — “He’s Always Been Competitive”

If you’re surprised by Pritchard’s audacity, you haven’t been paying attention.

Jayson Tatum, the Celtics’ franchise cornerstone and an All-NBA superstar, was asked about Pritchard’s boldness after the game. His answer was telling:

“He’s always been competitive, doesn’t back down from anybody, always takes on the challenge. And just his ability to create his own shot, how well he can, obviously, shoot the ball. It’s a luxury to have a guy like that who can score with the best of them coming off the bench on your team.”

Tatum doesn’t hand out empty compliments. When he says Pritchard can “score with the best of them,” he means it. Pritchard has been doing this all season. That’s why he won Sixth Man of the Year. That’s why Joe Mazzulla trusts him with the ball in crunch time. That’s why the Celtics paid him.

But here’s what makes Pritchard different from other sixth men: He doesn’t just shoot. He attacks. He talks. He competes. He’s 6’1″ in a league of 6’8″ wings, and he plays like he’s 6’10”.

Part 4: The Green Light — Coach Mazzulla’s Ultimate Freedom

Pritchard didn’t just decide to become a playoff hero on his own. He had help. Specifically, he had the blessing of Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

“They want me to be in attack mode, be able to touch the paint,” Pritchard described. “And so when you’re hearing your coaches say that — that gives you the ultimate freedom.”

Mazzulla, known for his unconventional approach and his unwavering belief in his players, has given Pritchard the greenest of green lights. Shoot from anywhere. Attack anyone. Don’t hesitate. Don’t second-guess. Just play.

And what did Mazzulla say after Pritchard’s 32-point masterpiece?

“We’re at our best when he’s aggressive and he’s bought into any role that’s necessary to winning. He just cares about competing, cares about the right stuff.”

That’s coach-speak for: “He’s a killer, and I love him.”

Part 5: The Size Question — Why Being Small Is Actually an Advantage

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Payton Pritchard is 6’1″. In NBA terms, that’s short. Most point guards are taller. Most shooting guards are MUCH taller. Defenders should be able to shoot over him, post him up, and bully him.

And yet, they don’t.

Why? Because Pritchard has turned his size into a weapon. He’s quicker than most players his height. He’s stronger than he looks. He uses his low center of gravity to stay in front of ball handlers. And on offense, smaller defenders can’t contest his quick-trigger release.

But here’s the stat that sums it all up: At halftime of Game 4, the Sixers had ZERO offensive rebounds. Zero. Not one. Pritchard, the 6’1″ bench guard, had one offensive rebound. He out-hustled, out-worked, and out-muscled players who have half a foot on him.

That’s not size. That’s heart.

Part 6: The Reggie Miller Connection — A Full-Circle Moment

There’s something poetic about Pritchard trash-talking Reggie Miller. Miller, after all, built his Hall of Fame career on two things: shooting threes and talking trash. He was the original “get under your skin” superstar. He once made the choke sign after hitting a big shot. He once scored 8 points in 9 seconds to stun the Knicks. He once yelled at Spike Lee for an entire game.

And now, a 6’1″ bench player from Boston — a city that Miller tormented for years — is chirping at him from the three-point line.

If Miller had a sense of irony, he probably laughed. If he didn’t, he probably wanted to suit up.

Either way, Pritchard’s exchange with Miller is now part of Celtics lore. It’s the kind of moment that gets replayed for decades. The undersized guard who doesn’t care about your résumé. The kid from Oregon who stares down greatness and winks.

Part 7: The Series Outlook — Boston Up 3-1, Philly on the Ropes

Let’s not forget that this game actually mattered. The Celtics didn’t just put on a show — they took a commanding 3-1 series lead. Game 5 is Tuesday night in Boston. The Sixers are heading home for the summer if they don’t figure something out fast.

And the scariest part for Philly? Pritchard isn’t even a starter. He’s the sixth man. He’s the guy who comes off the bench when the starters need a break. And he just dropped 32 points on their home floor.

Jaylen Brown was asked what Pritchard screams when he gets into a flow state. Brown smiled:

“I’m not sure. Whatever it is, tell him to keep doing it. It’s working.”

That’s the perfect summary of Payton Pritchard. Nobody knows exactly what he’s saying. Nobody cares. He’s winning.

Payton Pritchard is 6’1″. He’s not the fastest. He’s not the strongest. He doesn’t have the most polished handles or the highest vertical leap. By every measurable athletic metric, he shouldn’t be doing what he’s doing.

But basketball isn’t played on a spreadsheet. It’s played on a court, with a crowd, under pressure, against giants. And in that environment, Pritchard is a giant killer.

He yelled at Reggie Miller. He outscored the entire Sixers’ bench by himself. He grabbed offensive rebounds over players half a foot taller. He hit logo threes like they were layups. And after the game, his superstar teammates couldn’t stop smiling when they talked about him.

The Celtics are up 3-1. They’re one win away from advancing to the second round. And they have a 6’1″ point guard who thinks he’s the best player on the floor — because, on nights like this, he is.

Game 5 is Tuesday. The Sixers are terrified. The Celtics are confident. And Payton Pritchard? He’s probably already plotting his next conversation with Reggie Miller.

Keep yelling, Payton. It’s working.

According to breaking news, the Celtics are eyeing a blockbuster trade for Charlotte Hornets superstar point guard LaMelo Ball. The proposed deal? Boston sends Payton Pritchard, Luka Garza, and a first-round pick to Charlotte. The Hornets send LaMelo Ball to Boston.

Let’s be clear: This is not a done deal. But the fact that it’s being discussed — the fact that the basketball universe is even entertaining this possibility — tells you everything you need to know about where both franchises stand.

For the Celtics, this is a win-now move. For the Hornets, it’s a reset. And for the rest of the NBA? It’s a nightmare.

LaMelo Ball wearing Celtic green. Running pick-and-rolls with Jayson Tatum. Throwing no-look passes to Jaylen Brown. Pulling up from 30 feet in transition. The parquet floor hasn’t seen this kind of showtime since Larry Bird was talking trash to opposing benches.

Let’s break down why this trade makes sense, why it might actually happen, and why Boston fans should already be dreaming of championship parades.

Part 1: The Player — Why LaMelo Ball Is Worth the Gamble

Let’s start with the obvious: LaMelo Ball is not a normal point guard. He’s not even a normal superstar. He’s a 6-foot-7 magician with the ball in his hands, a flair for the dramatic, and a shooting range that extends from Boston to Bangor.

Here’s what Ball brings to any team that acquires him:

Elite playmaking: Ball has averaged over 7 assists per game for his career, with a highlight reel that includes no-look passes, behind-the-back dimes, and full-court lobs that make your jaw drop. He sees passes that don’t technically exist.

Deep shooting range: Ball isn’t just a shooter. He’s a “pull-up from the logo” shooter. Defenses have to guard him as soon as he crosses half-court, which opens up everything else for his teammates.

Size and length: At 6’7″, Ball can see over defenses and shoot over smaller guards. He’s not a lockdown defender yet, but the tools are there.

Star power: LaMelo is box office. He’s fun to watch. He puts butts in seats and eyes on screens. For a franchise like Boston that already has a massive fan base, adding Ball would turn the Celtics into national appointment viewing.

The only real concerns? Health and defense. Ball has missed significant time with ankle injuries. He’s also not known for his defensive intensity. But in the right system — with the right coach and the right defensive pieces around him — those weaknesses can be masked.

Part 2: The Fit — Ball, Tatum, and Brown as a Big Three

This is where Celtics fans should start getting excited.

Imagine a closing lineup of: LaMelo Ball, Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis (or Al Horford). That’s four players who can create their own shot, three players who can handle the ball, and shooting at every position.

Here’s how it works:

Ball handles the pick-and-roll: He’s the primary creator. Defenses have to respect his shooting, his passing, and his finishing at the rim. That’s a triple threat.

Tatum plays off the ball: This is the hidden masterpiece of this trade. Tatum is an elite isolation scorer, but he’s also lethal as a catch-and-shoot threat. With Ball drawing defensive attention, Tatum would get cleaner looks than ever before.

Brown attacks gaps: Brown is a straight-line driver and transition finisher. With Ball and Tatum spacing the floor, the lanes would be wide open.

Porzingis (or Horford) stretches the floor: The Celtics’ big man can pop out to the three-point line, clearing the paint for drives and post-ups.

Defensively, the Celtics would still be solid. White is an All-Defense caliber guard. Brown is a plus defender. Tatum is long and versatile. Porzingis protects the rim. Ball would be the weakest link, but Boston has the infrastructure to hide him.

The bottom line: This offense would be borderline unstoppable.

Part 3: The Celtics’ Perspective — Why Boston Makes This Move

The Celtics are in win-now mode. Jayson Tatum is in his prime. Jaylen Brown is in his prime. Kristaps Porzingis, when healthy, is a difference-maker. The time to win is now — not next year, not in three years. Now.

Adding LaMelo Ball does three things for the Celtics:

It adds a true point guard. For years, Boston has relied on combo guards and wings to handle playmaking duties. Ball is a pure point guard — a floor general who makes everyone better.

It takes pressure off Tatum. Tatum has carried an enormous offensive load for years. With Ball running the show, Tatum can focus on scoring instead of creating. That’s a huge difference.

It extends the championship window. Tatum is 27. Brown is 28. Ball is 24. That’s a core that could compete for the next five to seven years.

The cost? Payton Pritchard (a good backup guard), Luka Garza (a deep bench big), and a first-round pick (likely in the 20s). For a player of Ball’s caliber — a former Rookie of the Year, an All-Star, a top-20 talent when healthy — that’s a steal.

Part 4: The Hornets’ Perspective — Why Charlotte Says Yes

Why would the Hornets trade their franchise player? The answer is complicated, but it boils down to three factors:

The Ball experiment might have run its course. LaMelo has been in Charlotte for several seasons. The team has made the playoffs once. They’ve never advanced past the first round. At some point, both sides need to ask: is this working?

Health concerns. Ball has missed significant time in multiple seasons. For a small-market team like Charlotte, paying a max contract to a player who can’t stay on the floor is a risky proposition.

The return is solid. Payton Pritchard is a proven rotation player — a gritty, smart guard who can shoot and defend. Luka Garza is a young big with offensive skills. And that first-round pick gives Charlotte a chance to add another young piece.

Is this a great return for a superstar? No. But it might be the best return available if Ball’s trade value has dipped due to injuries and team stagnation.

Sometimes the best move a franchise can make is admitting that a change is needed. For Charlotte, that time might be now.

Part 5: The Fans’ Reaction — Excitement, Skepticism, and Everything In Between

Predictably, the internet has already exploded.

Celtics fans on Twitter: “LaMelo in green? I’m buying the jersey tomorrow.”

Hornets fans on Reddit: “We’re trading our best player for Payton Pritchard and a pick? Fire everyone.”

Neutral NBA fans: “This would be must-see TV. The Celtics would be so fun.”

The skepticism is understandable. Ball has never played in a big-market pressure cooker like Boston. He’s never been on a team with legitimate championship expectations. He’s never had to answer to a fan base that demands perfection every single night.

But that’s also the appeal. Ball thrives on attention. He loves the spotlight. Boston would give him the biggest stage of his career — and if he rises to the occasion, the Celtics could be looking at a dynasty.

Part 6: The Risks — What Could Go Wrong

Let’s not get carried away. This trade isn’t without risks.

Risk 1: Health. Ball’s ankles have betrayed him before. If he can’t stay on the floor, the Celtics just traded assets for a very expensive suit on the bench.

Risk 2: Chemistry. Ball needs the ball in his hands to be effective. So does Tatum. So does Brown. Three players who thrive with the rock could struggle to share it.

Risk 3: Defense. The Celtics have been built on defense for years. Ball is a liability on that end. Can Boston hide him in the playoffs when teams hunt mismatches?

Risk 4: The cost. A first-round pick might not seem like much, but the Celtics’ front office values draft capital. Losing a pick — even a late one — hurts.

These risks are real. But here’s the thing: every trade for a player of Ball’s caliber comes with risks. The Celtics would be betting that the upside outweighs the downside. And in a league where stars win championships, that’s usually a smart bet.

LaMelo Ball to the Boston Celtics. It sounds like a dream. It sounds like a video game trade that would get vetoed by the league for being unrealistic.

But here’s the truth: it could happen. And if it does, the NBA would be on notice.

The Celtics would have one of the most talented, exciting, and watchable rosters in the league. Ball, Tatum, and Brown would be a big three that rivals anything else in the Eastern Conference. The offense would be explosive. The highlight reels would be endless. And the championship pressure would be immense.

For Charlotte, it would be a bittersweet farewell. LaMelo gave Hornets fans memories they’ll never forget — the no-look passes, the deep threes, the swagger. But sometimes a relationship runs its course. Sometimes both sides need a fresh start.

For Boston, this is the kind of gamble that defines championship eras. Do you play it safe with what you have, or do you swing for the fences and add a star? The Celtics have always swung.

So Celtics fans, start picturing it now: LaMelo Ball, in green, dribbling up the parquet floor, looking for Jayson Tatum cutting to the rim, with Jaylen Brown waiting in the corner. The shot clock winding down. The crowd holding its breath.

That’s the vision. That’s the dream. And it might just become reality.

What happens next with Steve Kerr? Does he return as head coach, or is this the beginning of the end of a dynasty? Will Draymond Green opt out of his contract and walk? Is the Warriors’ window officially closed, or is there one more run left in this aging core?

Those questions are legitimate. They’re pressing. They’re the kind of debates that will dominate sports talk radio all summer.

But before we get to all that, Steve Kerr just reminded everyone of something that should never be forgotten: the unique, irreplaceable, and often underappreciated impact of Draymond Green.

In a wide-ranging interview with The New Yorker, Kerr was asked to compare Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan. Most coaches would have given a safe, diplomatic answer. Kerr did something else entirely. He used the question as a launching pad to heap praise on the man who has been the defensive heartbeat, the emotional engine, and the competitive soul of the Warriors dynasty.

His name is Draymond Green. And according to Kerr, without him, there are no championships.

“He’s an incredible leader. Michael was an incredible leader himself, but it’s an entirely different approach. I mean, Steph’s compassion for his teammates, his joy in life, his joy for celebrating everybody else’s accomplishments is so powerful. But without Draymond’s competitive edge and fight, I don’t think we win all those championships. They were the perfect compliment to each other.”

Let that sink in. Steve Kerr — who played alongside Michael Jordan, who coached Stephen Curry, who has seen greatness from every angle — just said that Draymond Green was as essential to the Warriors’ titles as Scottie Pippen was to Jordan’s Bulls.

That’s not hyperbole. That’s history.

Let’s break down why Kerr said what he said, what it means for Green’s legacy, and why this interview might be Kerr’s way of making one final public case for keeping the band together.

Part 1: The Question That Wasn’t Asked

Let’s start with the setup. Charles Bethea of The New Yorker asked Kerr a fairly standard question: compare Stephen Curry and Michael Jordan. It’s the kind of question that follows any all-time great. How does Curry stack up against Jordan? Different eras, different styles, different rules. It’s a debate that will never be settled.

Kerr could have given the predictable answer. He could have talked about scoring averages, Finals MVPs, defensive prowess. He didn’t.

Instead, Kerr pivoted. He acknowledged Curry’s greatness — “his compassion for his teammates, his joy in life, his joy for celebrating everybody else’s accomplishments” — but then he immediately shifted the focus to the player who made Curry’s greatness possible in a different way.

“Without Draymond’s competitive edge and fight, I don’t think we win all those championships.”

Notice what Kerr didn’t say. He didn’t say “without Klay Thompson’s shooting.” He didn’t say “without Kevin Durant’s scoring.” He didn’t even say “without my coaching.” He went straight to Draymond.

That’s a choice. And it’s a revealing one.

Part 2: The Scottie Pippen Comparison — Implied But Loud

Kerr never mentioned Scottie Pippen by name in this exchange. But the implication was deafening.

In Chicago, Michael Jordan was the greatest scorer and competitor the game had ever seen. But even Jordan couldn’t win alone. He needed Pippen — the do-everything forward who could guard the best player on the opposing team, run the offense, and take the pressure off MJ.

In Golden State, Stephen Curry is the greatest shooter and perhaps the most impactful offensive player of all time. But he needed Draymond — the defensive genius who could guard all five positions, the emotional firestarter, the quarterback of the Warriors’ offense from the high post.

The parallel is not accidental. Kerr lived both eras. He played with Jordan and Pippen. He coached Curry and Green. If anyone is qualified to make this comparison, it’s him.

And here’s what makes the comparison so powerful: Pippen was a top-50 player of all time. He’s in the Hall of Fame. He’s universally recognized as one of the greatest defensive forwards in NBA history. By comparing Green’s role to Pippen’s, Kerr is essentially saying: “Draymond belongs in that conversation.”

Some fans will scoff. They’ll point to Green’s scoring averages — never more than 14 points per game — and say he’s not in Pippen’s league. But those fans are missing the point. Basketball isn’t just about scoring. It’s about winning. And Draymond Green is one of the greatest winners of his generation.

Part 3: The “Perfect Compliment” — Why Steph and Draymond Worked

Kerr used a specific word that deserves attention: compliment. Not “complement” as in they fit together. “Compliment” as in each one makes the other better by being different.

Steph is joy. Draymond is fire. Steph lifts teammates up with positivity. Draymond demands excellence with screams. Steph celebrates everyone else’s accomplishments. Draymond celebrates winning — by any means necessary.

They shouldn’t work together. A laid-back superstar and a volcanic emotional leader? That sounds like a recipe for disaster. And yet, it worked. For over a decade, it worked. Four championships. Six Finals appearances. The most successful run in basketball since the Jordan-era Bulls.

Why did it work? Because they needed each other. Steph needed someone to be the enforcer, the trash-talker, the guy who would take a technical foul so Steph didn’t have to. Draymond needed someone to be the calm in the storm, the steady hand, the reason everyone kept believing even when things got chaotic.

As Kerr said: “They were the perfect compliment to each other.”

Part 4: The Timing — Why Kerr Is Saying This Now

This interview didn’t happen in a vacuum. It happened immediately after a disappointing season. The Warriors lost in the play-in tournament. They didn’t even make the playoffs. The dynasty that felt eternal is suddenly showing cracks.

And now, Kerr is going public with his most passionate defense of Draymond Green at the exact moment when Green’s future with the franchise is most uncertain.

Draymond can opt out of his contract this offseason. He can become an unrestricted free agent. His name has come up in trade rumors — most notably involving Giannis Antetokounmpo at the deadline, though nothing materialized. There’s a very real possibility that Green has played his last game in a Warriors uniform.

Kerr knows this. And he’s making his case — not to the front office privately, but to the entire world publicly.

“Without Draymond’s competitive edge and fight, I don’t think we win all those championships.”

That’s not just a compliment. That’s a warning. It’s Kerr saying: if you let him walk, you’re breaking up something that can’t be replaced.

Part 5: The Future — What Happens to Green and Kerr?

The offseason ahead is full of uncertainty.

Steve Kerr: No decision has been made about his future. He could return. He could step away. He could take a front-office role. The Warriors have options, but none of them are simple.

Draymond Green: He has a player option. He can test free agency. He could chase one last big contract elsewhere. Or he could take a team-friendly deal to stay in Golden State.

The Core: Curry is still elite. Kerr is still a Hall of Fame coach. Green is still a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber presence. But age is undefeated, and the Western Conference is loaded with younger, faster, hungrier teams.

Kerr’s interview with The New Yorker reads, in part, like a farewell argument. It’s his way of saying: “Don’t forget what made this dynasty special. Don’t forget the guy who made it all work. Don’t tear it down before it’s truly over.”

Will the Warriors listen? That remains to be seen.

Part 6: The Legacy — Where Does Draymond Green Belong in History?

Let’s settle this now. Draymond Green will never lead the league in scoring. He’ll never win an MVP. He’ll never be the first option on a championship team.

But he might be the greatest defensive player of his generation who wasn’t named Kawhi Leonard or Rudy Gobert. He might be the smartest help defender in NBA history. He might be the most versatile defender of all time — a player who could guard point guards and centers in the same possession.

And he was absolutely, positively, undeniably essential to the Warriors’ four titles.

Kerr’s comparison to Scottie Pippen isn’t about scoring averages. It’s about impact. It’s about winning. It’s about being the player who does all the little things — the screen assists, the defensive rotations, the emotional leadership — that don’t show up in box scores but show up in championship banners.

Pippen without Jordan never won a title. Jordan without Pippen never won a title. Curry without Green? He won two MVPs, but he didn’t win championships until Green emerged as a starter. That’s not a coincidence.

Steve Kerr didn’t have to say what he said. He could have given a generic answer about Curry vs. Jordan and moved on. But instead, he chose a moment of uncertainty — a moment when the Warriors’ future is cloudy and Draymond Green’s future is in doubt — to deliver an emphatic, unequivocal, passionate defense of No. 23.

“Without Draymond’s competitive edge and fight, I don’t think we win all those championships.”

Those aren’t the words of a coach trying to be nice. Those are the words of someone who knows exactly what he saw, exactly what he experienced, and exactly what history will remember.

Draymond Green is not everyone’s favorite player. He talks too much. He crosses the line sometimes. He has a technical foul problem and a reputation that precedes him.

But he is a winner. And Steve Kerr just made sure that everyone remembers it.

Whether Green stays in Golden State or walks this summer, whether Kerr returns to the bench or steps away — that legacy is secure. Draymond Green was the perfect compliment to Stephen Curry. And without him, the dynasty doesn’t exist.

That’s not hyperbole. That’s not coach-speak. That’s the truth.

And now, it’s on the record in The New Yorker for all time.

Ask the Golden State Warriors. They’re currently living that nightmare in real time.

Jonathan Kuminga — the athletic, explosive, 6’8″ forward who never quite fit Steve Kerr’s system in the Bay — is suddenly looking like the player the Warriors hoped he would be when they drafted him seventh overall in 2021. The only problem? He’s doing it in an Atlanta Hawks uniform.

Midseason trade. Change of scenery. A coach in Quin Snyder who actually trusts him. And now, through four games of a first-round playoff slugfest against the New York Knicks, Kuminga is averaging 14.5 points per game, playing lockdown defense on Karl-Anthony Towns, and looking every bit the lottery pick that Golden State gave up on.

And that has Kendrick Perkins absolutely furious.

“Somebody from Golden State needs to be fired,” Perkins thundered on the latest episode of Perk Unplugged.

Harsh? Maybe. But Perkins isn’t the only one asking difficult questions. How did the Warriors let this happen? Why did they choose Brandin Podziemski over Kuminga? And why is a player who helped them win a championship now shining for another team in the playoffs?

Let’s break down the Kuminga situation, the Warriors’ miscalculation, and why the Bay Area might be experiencing some very complicated feelings right now.

Part 1: The Breakup – How Golden State and Kuminga Reached a Point of No Return

Every relationship has an expiration date. For the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga, that date came sometime in the first half of the 2025-26 season.

The writing had been on the wall for months. Steve Kerr, the Warriors’ legendary head coach, was never quite able to integrate Kuminga into his motion offense. Kuminga is a downhill, attacking, chaos-creating forward who thrives in space and transition. Kerr’s system? It’s built on off-ball movement, split cuts, and split-second decision-making. The fit was always awkward, like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.

Kerr publicly lamented Kuminga’s “iffy fit” on multiple occasions. And Kuminga, for his part, made it clear that he was itching for a breakout opportunity — preferably somewhere else.

The front office had a choice: adjust the system to fit Kuminga, or move on. They chose the latter.

At the 2026 trade deadline, Golden State shipped Kuminga to the Atlanta Hawks. The return? Respectable, but nothing that screamed “we just traded a former lottery pick.” The Warriors essentially admitted that they couldn’t unlock the potential they had drafted four years earlier.

And then, the nightmare began.

Part 2: The Revelation – Kuminga in Atlanta, Playoff Edition

Quin Snyder is not Steve Kerr. He’s not trying to fit Kuminga into a pre-existing mold. He’s building a role around Kuminga’s strengths.

The result? Through four playoff games against the New York Knicks, Kuminga has been a revelation.

Game 1-3 production: Consistent scoring, disrupt defense, and a physical presence that the Knicks simply don’t have an answer for.

Game 4: A rough outing — 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting in a blowout loss. It happens. Playoff basketball is a grind.

Series stat line: 14.5 points per game, solid defense, and the trust of his coach to guard Karl-Anthony Towns for extended stretches.

That last point is crucial. Quin Snyder trusts Kuminga to guard one of the most versatile offensive big men in the league. That’s not a small thing. That’s a coaching staff believing in a player’s talent and IQ.

The series is tied 2-2. It’s a slugfest. And Kuminga is right in the middle of it, playing meaningful minutes in meaningful games, looking like the two-way weapon everyone thought he could become.

Meanwhile, back in the Bay Area…

Part 3: Perkins’ Tirade – “He Didn’t Want to See It”

Kendrick Perkins is not known for subtlety. On the latest episode of Perk Unplugged, the outspoken ESPN pundit went scorched earth on the Warriors’ front office and coaching staff.

Here’s what he said in full:

“He didn’t want to see it. He was in denial, but Steph Curry saw it. Draymond Green saw it. Jimmy Butler saw it. But you didn’t see it? A guy that you drafted in the lottery, a guy that has shown you time and time again, every single year, his points per game went up, but you chose Brandin Podziemski over Jonathan Kuminga, a man that helped you in the NBA Finals at times when you won your fourth championship?”

Let’s unpack that.

“He didn’t want to see it” – Perkins is clearly referring to Steve Kerr or perhaps the front office. Someone in a position of power who refused to acknowledge Kuminga’s potential.

“Steph Curry saw it. Draymond Green saw it. Jimmy Butler saw it.” – This is fascinating. Perkins is suggesting that the Warriors’ own players recognized Kuminga’s talent. Curry, the greatest shooter ever. Draymond, the defensive brain of the dynasty. Jimmy Butler, who joined the Warriors and immediately understood what Kuminga could be. If the players saw it, why didn’t the coaches or front office?

“You chose Brandin Podziemski over Jonathan Kuminga.” – Ouch. Podziemski is a nice player. He’s young, he’s skilled, he’s a hustle guy. But he’s not the athletic specimen that Kuminga is. Perkins is arguing that Golden State made a conscious decision to prioritize Podziemski in their rotation — and that decision cost them Kuminga.

“A man that helped you in the NBA Finals at times when you won your fourth championship.” – This is the dagger. Kuminga wasn’t just a bench warmer. He contributed to a Warriors championship. He had moments in the Finals. He was part of the 2022 title run. And yet, the organization still couldn’t find a consistent role for him.

Perkins’ conclusion is blunt:

“That’s one of the most athletic, versatile players, and his ceiling is through the roof. Now all of a sudden he’s sitting and he’s shining on the biggest stage. Somebody from Golden State needs to be fired.”

Part 4: The Podziemski Question – A Fateful Choice

Let’s talk about Brandin Podziemski, because Perkins isn’t wrong to bring him up.

The Warriors drafted Podziemski in the first round of the 2023 draft. He’s a 6’5″ guard who plays with energy, rebounds well for his position, and makes smart plays. He’s a useful NBA player. He might even become a good starter one day.

But here’s the question that haunts Golden State: Was Podziemski worth losing Kuminga over?

The Warriors’ rotation was crowded. Kerr had to make choices. And at some point, the organization decided that Podziemski’s skill set fit their system better than Kuminga’s athleticism. They valued the shooter over the slasher. They valued the high-IQ role player over the raw, explosive forward.

That decision looks worse with every playoff game Kuminga plays in Atlanta. Not because Podziemski is bad — he’s not. But because Kuminga is showing flashes of stardom that the Warriors desperately need right now.

Imagine Kuminga on the current Warriors roster, guarding LeBron James or Kevin Durant in a playoff series, finishing lobs from Steph Curry, running the floor in transition. That was supposed to be Golden State’s future. Instead, it’s Atlanta’s present.

Part 5: The Warriors’ Blind Spot – What Steve Kerr Missed

Kerr is one of the greatest coaches in NBA history. Nine championships as a player and coach. A system that revolutionized basketball. There’s no arguing with his résumé.

But every great coach has blind spots. And Kuminga might have been Kerr’s.

Kerr’s offense requires players who can read and react, who can make quick decisions, who can thrive in chaos. Curry and Green make that system work because they’re two of the highest-IQ players ever. Not everyone can do it.

Kuminga is a different kind of player. He’s a freight train. He needs the ball in his hands, in space, with momentum. He’s not a stand-in-the-corner shooter. He’s not a read-and-react savant. He’s a force of nature.

Kerr never figured out how to use him. Instead of adjusting the system to fit Kuminga’s talents, Kerr tried to fit Kuminga into the system. And when it didn’t work, the blame fell on the player, not the coach.

Now, Quin Snyder is showing what Kuminga can look like when you build around his strengths. He’s not asking Kuminga to be something he’s not. He’s asking Kuminga to be himself. And in the playoffs, that version of Kuminga is thriving.

Part 6: The Bigger Question – Should Someone Actually Be Fired?

Perkins says someone from Golden State needs to be fired. Is he right? Or is he just being a hot-take artist?

Let’s be fair: The Warriors have won championships. Multiple championships. They have a track record of success that most franchises would kill for. Kerr’s job is not — and should not be — in jeopardy over one player.

But the front office? That’s a different conversation.

The Warriors drafted Kuminga with the seventh overall pick. That’s a premium asset. They spent four years developing him, only to trade him for a modest return. And then, almost immediately, he starts producing elsewhere.

That’s not just bad luck. That’s a failure of player development, roster construction, or both.

Someone in the front office should have asked the hard question: “If we can’t unlock Kuminga’s potential, is that a Kuminga problem or a system problem?” The answer, clearly, was the system. But instead of changing the system, they changed the player.

Now, the Hawks are reaping the benefits. And the Warriors are left wondering what might have been.

Does that warrant a firing? Probably not. But it should warrant some serious self-reflection. And if the Warriors make another roster mistake next season, the grace period for “but we won championships” will officially expire.

The Bay Area is experiencing some very complicated feelings right now. And for good reason.

Jonathan Kuminga is not a bust. He never was. He was a square peg in a round hole, a thoroughbred trying to run in a system designed for quarter horses. The Warriors couldn’t figure him out. Steve Kerr couldn’t find the right role. And so they let him go.

Now, in the pressure cooker of the NBA playoffs, Kuminga is showing the world what he can do. He’s guarding Karl-Anthony Towns. He’s scoring 14.5 points per game off the bench. He’s playing with confidence, with trust, with the kind of freedom he never had in Golden State.

Kendrick Perkins is angry. He’s loud. He’s provocative. But is he wrong?

The Warriors chose Brandin Podziemski over Jonathan Kuminga. They chose system over talent. They chose comfort over adaptation. And now they’re watching from home — or maybe on TV — as their former lottery pick shines on the biggest stage.

Somebody from Golden State needs to be fired? That might be too strong. But somebody from Golden State certainly needs to answer some very difficult questions.

As for Kuminga? He’s finally where he belongs. In a system that believes in him. On a team that trusts him. In the playoffs, doing what he was always capable of doing.

The Warriors didn’t want to see it. But everyone else does. And that’s the most complicated feeling of all.

On Sunday night, the Houston Rockets will face a win-or-go-home Game 4 against the Los Angeles Lakers without their biggest weapon. According to ESPN, Kevin Durant is not expected to suit up. The future Hall of Famer is sitting out his second straight game after suffering a sprained left ankle — and the news gets worse. Further testing revealed a bone bruise in the same ankle.

Kevin Durant wearing number 7 reacts during a basketball game at Toyota Center in Houston

ESPN, citing sources, reports that this specific injury typically carries a two-to-three-week recovery timeline. The Rockets have tried “around-the-clock treatment” just to get Durant on the court. Doctors have not cleared him.

Let that sink in: Houston’s season is on the brink of a sweep, and their $50-million-per-year superstar is watching from the bench in street clothes.

Meanwhile, on the other sideline, a 41-year-old LeBron James — playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves — is licking his lips, ready to close the door on the Rockets’ season and become the first team to punch a ticket to the Western Conference Finals.

Durant’s playoff debut with the Rockets? A total disaster. And Sunday night, the nightmare likely ends.

Part 1: The Injury Horror Show – Durant’s Unlucky Postseason

Let’s rewind the tape. Kevin Durant had been healthy all season. His first year in a Rockets uniform was everything Houston dreamed of. Then came the playoffs.

Game 1: Durant misses the game entirely due to a right knee contusion suffered in practice. The team described it as a “tender” bruise in an “awkward spot” above his knee, severely limiting his mobility. The Lakers won 107-98.

Game 2: Durant guts it out. He plays 41 minutes, pours in 23 points (7-of-12 from the field, 8-of-9 from the line). He looks like KD. Then, late in the second half of a loss (101-94), he lands wrong. Sprained left ankle. He doesn’t return.

Game 3: No Durant. The Rockets fight, but LeBron plays 45 minutes and buries them. Lakers go up 3-0.

Game 4 (Sunday): Officially ruled out. Bone bruise. Two-to-three week recovery. Season over.

The most heartbreaking detail? Durant has still been showing up to the Rockets’ facility for treatment. He’s been in the film room, helping his teammates study the Lakers’ defense. He’s been a coach instead of a player.

But a coach can’t stop LeBron James. A coach can’t grab a rebound in the final two minutes. And a coach certainly can’t prevent a sweep.

As ESPN noted, after discovering the bone bruise, the Rockets finally understood why Durant had “further swelling and stiffness” compared to a normal sprain. In other words: this wasn’t just a twisted ankle. This was a legitimate, structural injury that no amount of “around-the-clock treatment” could fix in 48 hours.

Part 2: The Rockets’ Plan B – Alperen Şengün, Jabari Smith Jr., and a Prayer

So who carries the torch for Houston in Game 4?

The weight now falls on Alperen Şengün and Jabari Smith Jr. Şengün, the Turkish big man, has shown flashes of brilliance this series but has struggled against the Lakers’ defensive pressure. Smith Jr. has been solid but not spectacular.

The reality? Without Durant, the Rockets lack a true closer. They lack a player who can create his own shot in isolation when the offense stalls. They lack a guy who has won championships, played in the biggest moments, and isn’t afraid of the spotlight.

Houston’s offense in Game 4 will likely look like this:

Şengün posting up, hoping to draw fouls.

Smith Jr. stretching the floor from the perimeter.

Amen Thompson attacking the rim and trying to “make LeBron move” as he promised.

But here’s the cold truth: The Lakers know exactly what’s coming. There’s no Kevin Durant to command a double team. No KD to punish mismatches. No KD to hit a dagger three with the shot clock winding down.

The Rockets aren’t just shorthanded. They’re one-legged in a fight with a heavyweight champion.

Part 3: The Lakers’ Perspective – A Sweep Means Rest, Recovery, and a Date with OKC

From the Lakers’ side of the locker room, this is a golden opportunity.

LeBron James has played 38+ minutes in every game of this series — 43.2 minutes per game on average. He’s 41 years old. Every extra game wears him down a little more. Every extra minute takes a little something away from the next round.

A sweep on Sunday night means:

The Lakers become the first team to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

LeBron gets critical rest before facing the top-seeded OKC Thunder (who are waiting, rested, and watching).

Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves get even more time to heal. The team’s second and third scoring options could potentially return in Round 2.

The Lakers have already proven they can win without Doncic and Reaves. They’ve proven that a 41-year-old LeBron James is still capable of carrying a team on his back. Now they have a chance to close out the series at the Toyota Center in Houston, send the home crowd home depressed, and start preparing for the next challenge.

LeBron said it himself earlier in the series:

“We don’t have the luxury of being passive or being complacent. We don’t have the luxury to do that. Our whole mindset is we have to do everything it takes in that particular game.”

That mindset doesn’t change just because Durant is out. If anything, the Lakers will be even more aggressive. A wounded animal is still dangerous. But a wounded animal without its biggest teeth? That’s a target.

Part 4: Durant’s Heartbreaking Reality – A Lost Season

Let’s take a moment to feel for Kevin Durant.

He came to Houston to win. He left Brooklyn, left Phoenix, left all the drama behind to join a young, hungry Rockets team. And for one regular season, it worked. He stayed healthy. He played at an All-NBA level. The vibes were good.

Then the playoffs arrived, and everything fell apart.

A freak knee contusion in practice before Game 1.

A rushed return in Game 2, playing 41 minutes, looking great, only to suffer a separate ankle injury late.

A bone bruise diagnosis that essentially ended his postseason before it really began.

Durant has been praised by ESPN and local reporters for his professionalism during this nightmare. He’s been in the film room. He’s been getting “around-the-clock treatment.” He’s been a leader — just not the kind the Rockets need most right now.

They need him on the court. And he can’t be there.

The two-to-three week recovery timeline means that even if the Rockets pulled off the impossible — coming back from 0-3, winning four straight games without Durant in the first two — he might be healthy for a potential Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals. But that’s fantasy land.

The reality is much crueler: Kevin Durant’s first playoff run in a Rockets uniform ends on Sunday night, watching from the bench, unable to do anything but clap and offer advice.

Part 5: The Prediction – No Miracle, No Game 5, No Doubt

Let’s be honest with ourselves. The Rockets are facing a 3-0 deficit. No NBA team has ever come back from 0-3. The Lakers have all the momentum. LeBron James is playing like he’s 28, not 41. And now, the Rockets will play Game 4 without their best player.

Could the Rockets win one game? Sure. Strange things happen in the NBA. A hot shooting night from Şengün, a career game from Smith Jr., and a cold shooting night from the Lakers could extend the series to Game 5.

But here’s the difference between hope and reality: The Lakers have LeBron James. And the Rockets do not have Kevin Durant.

In a game of superstars, the superstar usually wins. On Sunday night, only one side has one.

Prediction: Lakers win Game 4. Sweep. LeBron finishes with a quiet 28-10-8 line, rests in the fourth quarter, and starts thinking about OKC before the final buzzer even sounds.

Kevin Durant came to Houston to chase a ring. Instead, he got a front-row seat to a sweep, watching from the bench in street clothes as a 41-year-old LeBron James reminded everyone why he’s the greatest of all time.

The Rockets have fought hard. Amen Thompson promised to “make LeBron slow down.” Alperen Şengün has battled in the paint. Jabari Smith Jr. has hit big shots. But without Durant, this series was a mismatch from the moment Game 1 tipped off.

Sunday night, the fat lady finally sings. The Lakers advance. LeBron gets his rest. Durant starts his long rehab. And the Rockets start asking themselves the offseason’s biggest question: What could have been if everyone had stayed healthy?

That’s the cruelest part of sports. We’ll never know.

Final verdict: No Durant. No Game 5. No miracle. Lakers in 4.

Here’s the absurd part: The Lakers have done this without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, their two best scorers. The man carrying the ship? A 41-year-old who just played 45 minutes in Game 3, dropped 29 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, and 3 steals, including a clutch game-tying three and a steal that set it all up.

LeBron James guards Kevin Durant.

His name is LeBron James. And the Rockets are officially terrified.

After Game 3, Houston’s defensive ace Amen Thompson didn’t bother with polite coach-speak. He went straight to the point — and it sounded more like a threat than a game plan.

“If he doesn’t slow down, we got to make him slow down,” Thompson said. “Being physical with him, keeping him in a position where he got to play the whole game… Make him move.”

Translation: We can’t stop him. So we’re going to try to hurt him. Good luck with that.

Part 1: The Impossible Reality – LeBron James at 41

Embed X: https://twitter.com/mcten/status/2048433749197492568

Let’s put this in perspective. LeBron James is the oldest active player in the NBA. Most players his age are either retired, sitting on a bench in a suit, or hosting podcasts. LeBron is playing 38+ minutes per game in the playoffs — 43.2 minutes per game this series, to be exact — and looking like he’s in his prime.

Game 3 was a masterpiece. Overtime. 45 minutes on the clock. The Rockets threw everything at him: double teams, traps, physicality, even a few “welcome to the playoffs” fouls. LeBron’s response? A 29-point triple-double threat, plus a steal that led to his own game-tying three to force OT. He didn’t just play. He dominated. He orchestrated. He closed.

At 41. Let that sink in.

Part 2: Amen Thompson’s Desperate Gamble – “Make Him Move”

Amen Thompson is one of the best young defenders in the league. He’s long, athletic, and plays with a chip on his shoulder. But even he sounds like he’s running out of ideas.

“If he doesn’t slow down, we got to make him slow down.”

That’s not a defensive scheme. That’s a prayer. Thompson’s plan essentially boils down to:

Be physical (translation: foul him hard and hope he feels it tomorrow)

Make him play the whole game (translation: he’s already doing that, genius)

Make him move (translation: run him through screens until his legs give out)

The problem? LeBron has heard this before. For 22 seasons. And he’s still standing. The Rockets can make him move all they want. But moving LeBron James doesn’t stop him. It just makes him angry. And angry LeBron in a closeout game? The Rockets might want to start booking their Cancun flights now.

Part 3: The Lakers’ Secret Weapon – Desperation Breeds Clarity

Here’s what makes this Lakers run so special. When Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves went down with injuries at the worst possible time — the last week of the regular season — everyone wrote off Los Angeles. The narrative was simple: “No Luka, no Reaves, no chance.”

LeBron James heard all of it. And this is what he said:

“The last week of the season, the last thing you would want or even want to imagine or think about is… two of your best players going down with injuries and not being ready for the postseason. So it was a shift for all of us. It’s challenging for all of us. And we’re figuring it out together on the fly.”

That’s not a superstar complaining about his supporting cast. That’s a leader taking responsibility. LeBron didn’t panic. He didn’t demand trades. He didn’t load-manage his way to a vacation. He strapped on his sneakers and said, “Follow me.”

And the Lakers followed. Role players have stepped up. Defense has tightened. And LeBron has done what he’s always done: raise his game when the lights are brightest.

Part 4: The Rockets’ Do-or-Die Reality – Game 4 or Bust

LeBron James reacts after clutch play in Lakers Game 3 win vs Rockets

Game 4 tips off on Sunday at 9:30 PM ET in Houston. The Rockets are facing a must-win situation — not just for the series, but for their dignity. No team in NBA history has come back from 0-3. The Rockets know this. The Lakers know this. Everyone knows this.

But here’s the cold truth: Kevin Durant is still questionable with a knee injury. The Rockets’ best scorer might not even suit up. And even if he does, can one night of heroics stop a 41-year-old who looks like he’s discovered the Fountain of Youth?

The Lakers, meanwhile, have a chance to close this out and rest before a likely second-round matchup against the top-seeded OKC Thunder. LeBron James has made it clear: no complacency. No passivity. Finish the job.

“We don’t have the luxury of being passive or being complacent,” James said. “We don’t have the luxury to do that. Our whole mindset is we have to do everything it takes in that particular game.”

That’s a closer’s mentality. And the Rockets are standing in the way.

Part 5: The Bigger Picture – What a Sweep Means for the Lakers

If the Lakers finish the sweep on Sunday, they will be the first team to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Finals. They will also buy precious time for Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves to heal before facing an OKC Thunder team that has been waiting and watching.

LeBron James has done exactly what he set out to do: buy time. He has carried a shorthanded roster through the first round, playing heavy minutes, taking big shots, and reminding everyone that while Father Time is undefeated, he’s currently in a overtime battle with No. 23.

And the Rockets? They’re left asking a question no defense can answer: How do you stop a legend who refuses to slow down?

Amen Thompson said the quiet part out loud: “If he doesn’t slow down, we got to make him slow down.” But here’s the thing about making LeBron James do anything — good luck. He’s 41 years old, playing 45-minute playoff games, and still making game-winning plays. He’s not slowing down. He’s not being made to slow down. And the Rockets are running out of games to try.

On Sunday, the Lakers have a chance to sweep. LeBron has a chance to rest. And the rest of the NBA has a chance to watch a 41-year-old legend do something that defies logic, science, and Father Time himself.

Final verdict: The Rockets can scheme. They can talk. They can even “make him move.” But until someone actually slows down LeBron James, the Lakers are going to keep winning. And Father Time? He’s still waiting on that memo.

That was, apparently, enough to spark Pritchard, who poured in 32 points with five assists, shooting 12-for-21 from the field and 6-for-12 from the 3-point line as the Celtics took a 3-1 lead with a 128-96 drubbing of Philadelphia. And with big shot after big shot, Pritchard routinely turned to look courtside and talk a bit of trash to Miller.

Said Pritchard on the NBC broadcast: “I like looking at Reggie. That’s my man. So, we have gone through a lot this year, some criticism and stuff like that, but that’s my guy. We always have a friendly banter.”

The Genesis: A Comparison That Stuck

The genesis of their interaction came back in late January when Miller was asked on a broadcast to compare WNBA star Caitlin Clark’s game to an NBA player, and Miller said, “I like Payton Pritchard from Boston, the way he’s able to handle the basketball. He makes good shots when the shot clock’s running down. A lot like this young lady right here.”

It was actually Clark who was supposed to be offended by the comment — most would compare her to, say, Stephen Curry or Luka Doncic. Her rather outspoken fans were not happy with Miller’s comment.

For whatever reason, though, it has fueled Pritchard, too. On February 22, when the Celtics were in Los Angeles, Miller was broadcasting and even then, Pritchard was turning and shouting at him after making big shots.

Pritchard had 30 points on 10-for-14 shooting in that game.

Miller’s Response: “I Introduced Him to America”

Miller said on Sunday, “That’s my guy. I love my guy. We’ve been through a lot together. And I respect this man. He’s a baller, he’s a gamer. I don’t know what the controversy ever was. People just didn’t know who he was. I introduced him to America.”

The comment is classic Reggie — a bit of revisionist history wrapped in genuine admiration. But there is no denying that Pritchard has played with a chip on his shoulder ever since.

Celtics Take Command of Series

Pritchard was not alone in giving the Celtics a spectacular, efficient game performance on Sunday. Jayson Tatum also looked to be in peak form, scoring 30 points on just 16 field-goal attempts, adding 11 assists and seven rebounds. Jaylen Brown had 20 points, though he was just 6-for-15 on the night.

Tatum’s 30 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds marked his second consecutive double-double and his third of the series. He looked fully recovered from the Achilles injury that sidelined him for nearly 10 months.

Embiid’s Return Falls Flat

The Sixers had hoped that a steady march back into this first-round series in the East would be sparked by the return of Embiid, who was very good — statistically, at least — in his return from an emergency appendectomy on April 9. He finished with 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, but was just 9-for-21 shooting and was a minus-25 in the box score.

Embiid’s return was not enough. The Celtics attacked him on defense, forced him to move laterally, and exploited the rust. He turned the ball over five times and struggled to protect the rim.

Payton Pritchard ‘Getting Downhill’ for Celtics

Pritchard also said that he has been more consciously aggressive for the Celtics in the last two wins, with 45 points combined in Games 3 and 4. He had 16 in Games 1 and 2.

Said Pritchard: “Trying to change the energy, change the pace of the game. The first two games, I didn’t like how I was attacking the paint so these last two games I feel like I had to be more aggressive getting downhill, and that just kind of opened up everything for me, and then the 3-ball started going. So, it was good.”

The Verdict: One Win Away

The Celtics are one win away from advancing to the second round. They have home-court advantage. They have momentum. They have a healthy Tatum.

And they have Payton Pritchard, who has found his motivation in the most unlikely of places: a Hall of Fame sharpshooter sitting courtside.

Game 5 is Tuesday in Boston. The Celtics can close it out at home.

If they do, they will be one step closer to the ultimate goal: Banner 19.

And Pritchard will have Reggie Miller to thank for the spark.