BOS • Guard • #11
Pritchard has been the favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year honors for most of this season, and he showed why on Sunday. With some of Boston’s stars having slow days at the office, Pritchard provided excellent offensive value off the bench. Add in Derrick White’s 30 points and Jrue Holiday (9/3/5/3 with three three-pointers) hitting three timely third-quarter threes while playing stifling defense, and the Celtics were able to take care of business in Game 1. Pritchard’s ability to provide scoring in quick bursts will be important in this series, especially if the Magic can slow down star wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.
about 8 hours ago
April 20, 2025 10:23 PM
BOS • Guard • #9
about 8 hours ago
White was one of the Celtics who stepped up to lead the reigning champions to a win in Sunday’s series opener. With Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis (5/6/2/4/1 in 26 minutes) combining to score 38 points on 15-of-44 shooting, White came up huge, making at least two shots in all four quarters. He had one 30-point game during last season’s run to the title, Boston’s Game 4 win over the Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Given the strength of Orlando’s wing defenders, this may be a series in which the Celtics’ guards are difference-makers, as was the case in Game 1. Game 2 is on Wednesday night.
BOS • Guard-Forward • #7
about 8 hours ago
In addition to the victory, the good news for the Celtics on Sunday was that Brown’s right knee did not appear to give him any trouble. The time off, with the Celtics’ guard having missed the team’s final three regular-season games, appeared to do Brown some good health-wise. He didn’t have the best afternoon from a scoring standpoint. Still, the improved production offered by Derrick White and Payton Pritchard helped the reigning champs compensate for their three primary scorers having lackluster days. Game 2 is on Wednesday.
BOS • Forward-Guard • #0
about 8 hours ago
Tatum got his 2025 playoffs off to a slow start, and that was before he landed hard on a drive to the basket during the fourth quarter. The Celtics star landed on his already-injured right wrist, and although he stayed in the game, the injury was a concern. Tatum would eventually get the wrist taped, but he never looked comfortable, even after exiting for good with a little over two minutes remaining. Game 2 of the series is on Wednesday; hopefully, the extra day off does Tatum some good regarding his right wrist.
HOU • Guard • #5
about 2 hours ago
Sunday’s series opener was brutal for the Rockets’ starting guards. VanVleet and Jalen Green (7/8/2 in 31 minutes) combined to shoot 7-of-34 from the field overall and 2-of-17 from beyond the arc. Neither was an efficient shooter during the regular season, with VanVleet making 37.8 percent of his attempts and Green slightly better at 42.3 percent. That said, neither reached those levels in Game 1, which was a significant reason why Houston lost. VanVleet and Green will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Wednesday.
GSW • Guard • #2
about 2 hours ago
Only three Warriors reached double figures in Sunday’s 95-85 victory, with Podziemski joining Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Making his first postseason appearance, the second-year guard offered solid value in rebounds, assists, steals and three-pointers in Game 1. Podziemski isn’t part of Golden State’s “big three,” with Draymond Green owning that seat next to Curry and Butler. But his contributions are essential, especially in a series that may be low-scoring due to the defensive ability of both teams. The Warriors will look to extend their series lead to 2-0 on Wednesday.
GSW • Guard • #30
about 2 hours ago
Curry missed his first three shots on Sunday, possibly prompting some to recall the April 6 meeting in which the Rockets held him to just three points. That game was an outlier for the elite shooter, and he would make 12 of his final 16 shots in Sunday’s series opener. During his postseason career, Curry has scored 30 points or more on 59 occasions. With Jimmy Butler now in the fold, he’ll likely have the room to produce more efforts of Sunday’s caliber in this series. Game 2 is on Wednesday.
