The Boston Celtics bench started off slow right out of the gate despite the team starting off hot and remain the only undefeated team in the NBA to start the season.

After three subpar performances from the bench resulting in 12-points, 8-points, and 26-points, head coach Joe Mazzulla had a meeting specifically with the second and third units to clarify some things and to make sure they’re all on the same page.

In the first game after meeting with Mazzulla, the bench produced 63-points in what was a blowout victory over the Indiana Pacers at the TD Garden. They scored 46-points in the fourth quarter alone, to which Mazzulla credited his backup guard Payton Pritchard for.

“They were organized, they got to their spots faster. I thought Payton did a good job organizing… They played with a sense of purpose and managed the game.”

Pritchard finished the game with 15-points, nine assists, and four rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench.

Mazzulla wasn’t the only person to give credit to Pritchard, as Lamar Stevens said that he’s the leader of that group.

“I think Payton has done a good job. He’s been here, he’s been through a lot in terms of just playing, not playing. So I think he’s been doing a good job of giving guys stuff he’s been through and how he kind of stayed ready and really enjoyed these days where you could come in and get better. So definitely if I had to pick somebody I would pick Payton for sure.”

Pritchard earned a four-year, $30 million contract extension from the Celtics just before the start of the regular season. He’s expected to see the court more often than not this season as Boston’s backup guard.

He’s averaging career-highs in assists at 4.3 per game and rebounds at 3.0 per game while playing the most minutes since his rookie year at 18.8 per game.

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Photo Credit: Brian Babineau, NBAE Getty Images