Payton Pritchard Said Patrick Beverley’s Too Small: ‘Lit a Little Fire in Me'

Payton Pritchard has been leading the Celtics second unit, averaging 12.9 points in his last seven contests.

It got down to the wire, but the Boston Celtics were able to edge out the Milwaukee Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo, 122-119.

Payton Pritchard started to go off in the second quarter offensively, beginning with his Kyrie Irving-like crossover on Danilo Gallinari. The guard had 13 points in 13 minutes on 5-6 from the field, as he finished with 19 points and six rebounds on 7-11 and 5-8 from three.

Pritchard has had three straight scoring outputs, including a 13-assist contest in Washington on Sunday. In the last seven games, he has averaged 12.9 points, five assists, and four rebounds, shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 45 from three across 28.7 minutes.

To further gauge Boston's balance, Pritchard was one of five players to score at least 17, along with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis.

Following the win, Pritchard said he was not happy with the "too-small" celebration on the other side from Patrick Beverley.

"It kind of lit a little fire in me," Pritchard said. "Trying to clown one of our teammates, so, definitely took it a little personal."

Pritchard is no stranger to what Beverley brings to the table.

"To bring more energy, bring more dog to it," Pritchard responded to what fueled him on the court. "I mean, I think that's what he prides himself on, so try to bring more than him."

The fourth-year guard enjoyed the fire between the Celtics and Bucks and liked how things got heated, as it brought out a lot of his emotion.

"A hundred percent," Pritchard added in regards to enjoying chippy games. "I think it brings the best out of people, the biggest competitors. I feel like that was kind of a playoff game. It had the atmosphere like it, the energy in the building, so, I don't know, I just was ready for it."