Blake Griffin said Payton Pritchard was so shy and so scrawny that he knew he had to be "nasty" on the court if Oklahoma was recruiting him.

Blake Griffin and Payton Pritchard met at a Los Angeles Clippers game when Pritchard was just 16 years old before they knew they’d end up teammates on the Boston Celtics.

Still, Pritchard saw his minutes sink to 13.1 per game in his third season -- when Mazzulla took over for Udoka, who was suspended for violating team policies -- and he played in just 48 regular-season games after averaging 68 the two seasons before.

On this day in Celtics history, former Boston point guard Tony Delk was born, and guard Bobby Wilson was signed.

Unable to place full faith in Payton Pritchard as the current favorite for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick review favorable odds for several players vying for the award.

Strong options off the bench an essential piece for any contending team during the taxing 82-game season and the intense postseason that follows. A good bench can help pick up the slack if a star player is having an off night, or if the team is dealing with injury woes.

Udoka, now coaching the Rockets, saw Pritchard step into an important role as the Celtics marched to the 2022 NBA Finals before losing to the Warriors.

Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka reflected on Payton Pritchard's lack of playing time, and how far the Celtics guard has come.

Former Celtics big Blake Griffin recalls a time when he played Payton Pritchard, and revealed how he knew Pritchard would be good.

Pritchard closed with 15 points (5-7 FG, 5-6 3Pt), four rebounds, three assists and one steal over 31 minutes during Monday's 114-112 loss to the Rockets. Derrick White (leg) was unavailable and Al Horford (toe) was later reported as a late scratch,

Hauser (hip) has been listed as questionable for Friday's game against the Pelicans, Taylor Snow of the Celtics' official site reports. After missing the last two games for the Celtics, Hauser could miss a third straight game while dealing with a pinched nerve in his right hip.

NBA Sixth Man of the Year (6MOTY) race continues to take shape past the season's midway point, with three candidates gaining separation.