The best end-of-season performances in recent Celtics history

With the Celtics having tons of normal season success over time, the ultimate video games of the season don’t usually maintain any actual playoff implications. This opens the door for among the bench guys to get an opportunity to play whereas the starters relaxation for the playoffs. There have been some memorable performances from Boston bench guys in years previous so let’s revisit them.

2024 Svi Mykhailiuk and Payton Pritchard vs. Wizards

Within the ultimate recreation of the common season in 2024, the Celtics had already locked up the primary seed within the Japanese Convention lengthy earlier than Recreation 82. This recreation was a tribute to very long time Celtics broadcaster Mike Gorman as he was retiring on the finish of the yr.

In solely his fifth begin of the season, Payton Pritchard had an enormous recreation with 38 factors, 12 assists, 9 rebounds, on 15-21 capturing from the sector and 4-6 from three. This was Pritchard’s profession excessive on the time and for the second yr in a row, he would have 30+ factors within the ultimate recreation of the season.

Svi Mykhailiuk acquired his second begin of the season as effectively and made probably the most of it as he scored 26 factors with 5 assists and 5 rebounds on 10-13 capturing and 6-8 from three. Mykailiuk’s recreation was punctuated by a monster ally-oop slam he had on the Wizards’ Anthony Gill.

Mykhailiuk would signal a 4 yr, $15 million contract with the Utah Jazz within the offseason after the Celtics gained the championship and I can’t assist however assume this recreation was an important showcase of his abilities.

2023 Sam Hauser vs. Raptors

In a recreation the place the Celtics starters performed, it was Sam Hauser that stole the present within the second to final recreation of the 2023-24 season. Hauser exploded for an on the time profession excessive 26 factors, and 5 rebounds on 10-16 capturing from the sector and 6-12 from past the arc.

This recreation was not remembered for his nice capturing efficiency, however the introduction to “Slam Hauser” that actually acquired everybody excited. Hauser had three dunks on this recreation which was a very huge shock on the time. The third dunk was probably the most memorable as after he had the Celtics bench going loopy on the sideline.

2023 Sam Hauser, Mike Muscala, and Payton Pritchard vs. Hawks

The ultimate recreation of the 2022-23 season was even crazier than the one earlier than it because the Celtic had three gamers end with over 25+ factors on this matchup with the Atlanta Hawks. Payton Pritchard was the main scorer on this recreation and racked up his first profession triple-double with 30 factors, 11 assists, and 14 rebounds as he shot 10-21 from the sector and 9-16 from three.

The second participant to have a giant recreation was Mike Muscala as he scored 27 factors and grabbed 8 rebounds on 9-13 capturing and 4-7 from three. Muscala was acquired by the Celtics on the 2023 commerce deadline for extra depth and capturing coming off of the bench on the heart place. He would find yourself being traded within the offseason to the Washington Wizards as part of the Kristaps Porzingis deal.

The third and ultimate participant to have an important recreation was Sam Hauser who adopted up his 26-point efficiency in opposition to the Raptors with one other 26-point efficiency in opposition to the Hawks together with 6 assists and 5 rebounds on 9-16 capturing and 8-14 from three. This matched Hauser’s profession excessive in factors set within the recreation prior and ended the 2023 season with the vibes at an all-time excessive.

2019 RJ Hunter vs. Wizards

RJ Hunter was the twenty eighth total choose within the 2015 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and didn’t have probably the most memorable profession, bouncing round with 3 completely different groups in 4 seasons, but it surely was his ultimate recreation in his second stint in Boston that might be remembered probably the most.

After the Celtics signed Hunter to a two-way contract in January of 2019, he acquired his solely NBA look of the season in Boston’s ultimate recreation in opposition to the Wizards. He took full benefit of this chance and scored 17 factors off the bench on 6-13 capturing. That included 10 factors within the fourth quarter alone together with a dagger three would seal the win.

This ended up being R.J. Hunter’s final recreation within the NBA however his basketball continued for a pair extra years after in China and Australia. Then in October of 2024, he signed on to be a volunteer assistant coach for Tulane College’s basketball staff the place his father, Ron Hunter, is the pinnacle coach.

2018 Aron Baynes vs. Nets

Aron Baynes had a stable profession with the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons earlier than signing with the Celtics earlier than the 2018 season. He was a stable backup huge for Boston, however the final of the 2018 common season can be his finest. Baynes dropped an on the time profession excessive 26 factors on the Brooklyn Nets alongside 14 rebounds on 12-23 capturing.

After this spectacular recreation, Baynes can be an integral a part of the 2018 Celtics staff that ended up being one win shy of a visit to the NBA Finals. He would play yet another season for Boston in 2019 earlier than going to Phoenix, Toronto, and eventually again to Australia the place he would retire in 2024.

2015 Gigi Datome vs. Bucks

Gigi Datome was enjoying within the Euroleague and in Italy for a decade earlier than signing with the Detroit Pistons in 2013 after which one season later was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2015 alongside Jonas Jerebko in alternate for Tayshaun Prince.

In solely 18 video games for Boston, Datome would rapidly change into a fan favourite but in addition play an identical reserve position off the bench. That was till he acquired his first profession NBA begin within the ultimate recreation of the 2015 season in opposition to the Milwaukee Bucks and he confirmed out, scoring a profession excessive 22 factors on 9-15 capturing.

Gigi Datome performed in three extra playoff video games for the Celtics in 2015 earlier than going again to the Euroleague for the 2016 season. He would proceed to play abroad for the final eight seasons of his basketball profession till he retired after representing Italy within the 2023 FIBA World Cup.