Payton Pritchard got hit with a gut punch Tuesday night, exiting the Boston Celtics’ game against Milwaukee in the third quarter with a right eye abrasion. It’s a tough break for the 28-year-old guard who was putting in work, dropping 10 points and grabbing 5 rebounds in just 18 minutes off the bench before the incident.
From Shoulder Scare to Eye Abrasion
Pritchard actually outscored the Bucks by 7 points in his minutes on the floor, showing he was making an impact before the injury. This eye abrasion is a real kick when he was just getting past another hurdle, too. He was listed as questionable before tip-off with a right shoulder contusion, only to be upgraded to available. Talk about a rollercoaster before the game even truly got going. The rest of the Celtics squad was reportedly fully healthy, though Jayson Tatum did miss his first game of the season to rest, and two-way player Devin Carter is still sidelined recovering from an illness he caught in preseason.
Struggling For Consistency
This eye abrasion just adds to what’s been a tough start for Pritchard this season. The guy’s averaging 13.4 points and 3.4 assists per game, but he’s only hitting 40.3% from the field and a chilly 31% from three-point range. While he’s had a couple of standout performances, like his two best games coming against the Chicago Bulls and another 17-point effort against the Detroit Pistons, he’s largely struggled to consistently hit double-digits otherwise. Celtics fans have to be wondering when he’ll find his rhythm.
Right now, everyone’s just waiting for more information on Pritchard’s eye abrasion. After battling through that shoulder contusion only to get sidelined again, you have to feel for the guy. Hopefully, this isn’t a long-term setback for a player who’s clearly trying to find his groove this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Celtics Blog.
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