PHILADELPHIA — There’s something about seeing Reggie Miller courtside that seems to ignite a fire in Boston Celtics sixth man Payton Pritchard.
On Sunday night in Philadelphia, with the series hanging in the balance and the Sixers welcoming back star center Joel Embiid from an emergency appendectomy, Pritchard delivered a career-defining playoff performance — and made sure the Hall of Famer broadcasting the game on NBC knew all about it.
The undrafted guard exploded for 32 points and five assists, shooting an efficient 12-for-21 from the field and 6-for-12 from beyond the arc, as the Celtics cruised to a commanding 128-96 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The win gave Boston a commanding 3-1 lead in the first-round Eastern Conference series.
Time and again, after knocking down big shots, Pritchard turned toward Miller’s courtside seat and exchanged words with the legendary shooter. The gesture was part taunt, part playful banter — and it clearly energized the Celtics bench spark plug.
“I like looking at Reggie. That’s my man,” Pritchard said on the NBC broadcast afterward. “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 unusual rivalry-turned-friendship traces back to late January, when Miller, working as an analyst, compared WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark’s game to Pritchard’s, citing the guard’s ability to handle the ball and make tough shots late in the clock. While the comment drew backlash from some of Clark’s fans who expected comparisons to Stephen Curry or Luka Dončić, it unexpectedly lit a motivational spark in Pritchard.
The connection became visible on the court on February 22 in Los Angeles, where Pritchard dropped 30 points on 10-for-14 shooting and was seen shouting in Miller’s direction after several made baskets. On Sunday, the ritual continued in dramatic fashion during Boston’s blowout win.
Miller, for his part, took the taunting in stride and returned the respect.
“That’s my guy. I love my guy,” Miller said. “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.”
Pritchard wasn’t the only Celtic shining brightly. Jayson Tatum returned to peak form with 30 points on just 16 field goal attempts, adding 11 assists and seven rebounds in a masterclass of efficiency. Jaylen Brown contributed 20 points, while the Celtics as a team looked sharp and dominant.
On the other side, the 76ers had hoped Embiid’s return would swing momentum. The big man was productive statistically, posting 26 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists. However, he shot just 9-for-21 from the field and finished a team-worst minus-25 in the lopsided loss, unable to prevent Philadelphia from falling into a deep hole.
Pritchard revealed after the game that he made a conscious effort to change his approach in Games 3 and 4, combining for 45 points after managing only 16 across the first two contests.
“I didn’t like how I was attacking the paint in the first two games,” he explained. “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. Then the 3-ball started going. So, it was good.”
With the series now tilting heavily in Boston’s favor, the Celtics will look to close it out in Game 5 at home. Whether Reggie Miller is watching from courtside again remains to be seen — but if he is, Payton Pritchard will almost certainly have one eye on him every time the ball goes through the net.