Boxing Day Battles: Pritchard’s Career Night and Ja’s Return Highlight a Wild NBA Friday

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The Lead Story: Boston’s “Bench Mob” Blitzes the Pacers

The Boston Celtics continued their surge up the Eastern Conference standings with a commanding 140–122 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Despite Indiana leading for much of the first half, Boston’s depth proved overwhelming.

The star of the night wasn’t a perennial All-Star, but Payton Pritchard, who exploded for 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Pritchard’s efficiency—fueled by a barrage of deep threes—allowed the Celtics to maintain a 56-win pace. Jaylen Brown added a relentless 30-point performance, navigating a physical Indiana defense that limited him to just two free-throw attempts.

Game Recaps & Results

Game	Score	Key Takeaway
Celtics @ Pacers	140 – 122	Pritchard & Brown combine for 59 in a blowout.
Suns @ Pelicans	115 – 108	Phoenix wins despite 8/40 shooting from deep.
76ers @ Bulls	102 – 109	Jalen Smith’s poster dunk on Embiid sparks 10-0 run.
Bucks @ Grizzlies	104 – 125	Ja Morant returns with a 17-point double-double.
Pistons @ Jazz	129 – 131	Utah survives a 40-point thriller in SLC.
Wizards @ Raptors	138 – 117	Washington’s offense clicks in a 21-point rout.
Heat @ Hawks	126 – 111	Miami silences the Atlanta crowd behind veteran poise.

Defensive Statement: Chicago Stuns Philly

The Chicago Bulls matched a season-high with their fifth straight win, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 109–102. The game was a gritty affair that came down to the final three minutes.

With the Sixers leading 102–99, Jalen Smith delivered the play of the night: a baseline drive and thunderous dunk over Joel Embiid that ignited a game-ending 10–0 Bulls run. Embiid, returning from knee soreness, finished with 31 points, but the Sixers’ offense went cold in the closing minutes as Chicago’s perimeter defense locked down Tyrese Maxey (27 points).

Ja Morant’s Triumphant Return

In Memphis, the Grizzlies looked like a completely different team with the return of Ja Morant. After missing four games with an ankle sprain, Morant looked explosive, tallying 17 points and 10 assists in a 125–104 win over the Giannis-less Bucks. Jaren Jackson Jr. anchored the interior with 24 points and 5 blocks, as Memphis moved ahead by as many as 21 points in the final frame.

Stat of the Night

59.3%: The Washington Wizards shot nearly 60% as a team in their 138–117 blowout of the Toronto Raptors, marking their highest-scoring performance of the season.