The face of Oregon Ducks basketball in the NBA has been the top bench piece throughout the 2024-25 campaign. Although it's not much of a competition, Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard is a finalist for Sixth Man of the Year.

It took Pritchard, who subbed in late in the first quarter, just 46 seconds to hit his first 3-pointer. Three possessions later, he was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws. Twenty seconds after that, he drained a three in transition after a Kristaps Porzingis steal. Three minutes, nine points.

One of the reasons why the Boston Celtics could be more difficult to beat in the 2025 NBA playoffs compared to last year’s championship run is the emergence of Payton Pritchard as a go-to scorer and momentum-shifter off the bench.