“[Coach Joe Mazzulla] challenged me,” Pritchard said. “I feel like the first four games [this season] my defensive activity and my rebounding have been poor, so [he was] challenging me to step up in those areas.”
Pritchard is averaging 16.6 points per game in Boston’s five contests.
“I think Payton’s a guy that gets better every year, and I think the sky’s the limit for him,” Mazzulla said. “I think he hasn’t completely tapped into the player that he can become, and that’s just being complete on both ends of the floor and not being defined by one thing.”
The Celtics are on a four-game winning streak heading into Sunday afternoon’s game. Here’s a preview.
When: Sunday, 3:30 p.m.
Where: Kia Center, Orlando
TV: NBCSB. Radio: WBZ-FM 98.5.
Line: Boston -6.5. O/U: 222.5.
CELTICS
Season record: 4-1. vs. spread: 2-2, 1 push. Over/under: 3-1, 1 push
Last 10 games: 6-4. vs. spread: 3-6, 1 push. Over/under: 5-4, 1 push
MAGIC
Season record: 2-3. vs. spread: 2-3. Over/under: 3-2
Last 10 games: 4-6. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 6-4
TEAM STATISTICS
Points per game: Boston 120.8, Orlando 109.8
Points allowed per game: Boston 111.6, Orlando 118.4
Field goal percentage: Boston .474, Orlando .457
Opponent field goal percentage: Boston .428, Orlando .465
3-point percentage: Boston .374, Orlando .353
Opponent 3-point percentage: Boston .335, Orlando .364
Stat of the day: Through five games, the Celtics are averaging 120.8 points per game and rank third in the NBA. The Magic are 23rd at 109.8.
Notes: Orlando is coming off a split at Toronto and looked like a completely different team in each matchup. The Magic dropped a 129-99 decision at Toronto on Wednesday then defeated the Raptors 121-114 on the road two nights later. … Toronto had a two-point lead midway through the fourth quarter Friday, but Orlando ended the game on a 21-12 run. … The Magic went 2-1 on their first road trip and return home where they are 0-2. … Magic injury report – Paolo Banchero: out (ankle), Jonathan Isaac: out (knee), Izaiyah Nelson: out (ankle), Noah Penda: out (hamstring), Jalen Suggs: out (knee). … Celtics injury report – Devin Carter: out (illness).
Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.
Matt Pepin can be reached at matt.pepin@globe.com.