Pritchard was listed as day-to-day for rest on Friday's injury report and will sit out the preseason finale against the 76ers. He will not play in Boston's last tune-up before the regular season opens.
What happened
Pritchard was listed as day-to-day for rest on Friday's injury report, issued at 7:15 PM ET, with no previous status given for him heading into the update. Sean Grande of NBC Sports Boston reports that Pritchard won't play in Friday's preseason finale against the 76ers. Earlier in the preseason, Pritchard was day-to-day for an undisclosed issue on Oct. 8 and was cleared from that designation on Oct. 10, before this latest rest-related listing.
What it means for the Celtics
Boston closes its preseason Friday at 7:00 PM ET against the 76ers on NBA TV, the same game Pritchard will miss. Last season he averaged 17.0 points, 5.2 assists and 3.9 rebounds in 32.3 minutes across 79 games, and his absence opens backcourt minutes. Derrick White (34.1 min, 16.5 pts) and Anfernee Simons (24.5 min, 14.2 pts) are the top candidates to pick up his run, with Jaylen Brown (34.4 min, 28.7 pts) and Jayson Tatum (32.6 min, 21.8 pts) still anchoring the offense. The Celtics are 0-0 since the 2026-27 regular season has not started, so there is no with-or-without-him record yet.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Pritchard's rest day clears him in time. His expected return is listed as Oct. 20, which would have him available as Boston moves into the regular season. Several other Celtics, including Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Paul George and Mike Conley, also appeared as day-to-day for rest on Friday's report, reflecting a broader rest plan for the preseason finale.
Is Payton Pritchard playing vs the 76ers?
No. Pritchard is day-to-day with a rest issue and will not play in Friday's preseason finale against the 76ers, according to the injury report.
When will Payton Pritchard be back?
His expected return is listed as Oct. 20, per the injury report.