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Brad Stevens: Pritchard back at practice, finger issue not serious

Justin Quinn
·2 min read

The Boston Celtics got a minor reprieve after flirting with adopting their notorious alter-ego — the so-called “Hospital” Celtics — before the season even starts with word a dislocated finger suffered in practice by rookie point guard Payton Pritchard was nothing serious, the Oregon product already back at it in practice.

With news newly-signed big man Tristan Thompson is looking like he might miss the team’s season opener on Dec. 23 with a strained hamstring on top of ongoing absences to injury for Kemba Walker and Romeo Langford, the prospect of potentially losing even a rookie floor general is magnified.

Coach Brad Stevens related to the media that the former Duck dodged a bullet however, with Pritchard practicing with the team on Sunday.

“He’s tough; he practiced today,” shared the Celtics coach

“He tried to get back in practice yesterday. Like I said they popped that thing back in and [he was] begging to come back into practice, but they waited ’til — rightfully so — there was an X-ray taken and make sure there was no other issues. He practiced fully today with his fingers taped up.”

“Tough little guy,” remarked Stevens in closing.

 

The Celtics will likely need every available player in this truncated, COVID-19-inflected season, particularly early in the schedule while Walker and Langford are recuperating.

So, hearing of Pritchard’s resilience is a blessing — fingers crossed Thompson’s hamstring issues are resolved by Christmas week as well.

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