The Boston Celtics managed to fend off the Milwaukee Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo to win 122-119, but that wasn’t the only notable storyline from that game.
Patrick Beverley is now on his seventh team when his Milwaukee Bucks played the Celtics at the TD Garden. Fans at the stadium and across the country saw the taunt he threw towards one of the opposing players.
This action didn’t sit right with one of the players who made a definite impact on the game.
Boston Celtics’ Payton Pritchard hated Patrick Beverley’s trash talk to Luke Kornet
The moment in question came after the high-energy, trash-talking journeyman made a difficult shot over Kornet. Beverley, a 6’2″ guard, then gestured to the 7’2″ Kornet that he was too small for him.
It was after that shot that Peyton Pritchard decided to take things to his own hands and give the 35-year-old the hiding of his life.
Per Steve DelVecchio of Larry Brown Sports:
Pritchard admitted that the gesture inspired him to “bring more energy, more dog to it.”
“He was trying to clown one of our teammates, so, definitely took it a little personal,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard had an outstanding game for the C’s, finishing with an impressive 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 7/11 shooting and 5/8 from deep.
Did Patrick Beverley go too far with his trash talk?
Every Boston Celtics fan knew hat the moment was something to be expected out of the seasoned veteran. He’s never been one to shy away from confrontation. After all, it was his gung-ho attitude that helped him win the starting point guard job from Jeremy Lin during his early years in Houston.
Even teammates have come to appreciate that aspect of his game. Zach LaVine had this to say when he played with Beverley last season, per NBC Sports Chicago’s Ryan Taylor:
“At this point in the season, where we’re trying to get back to where we need (to be), we need a spark,” LaVine said on Wednesday. “We needed anything we could. Pat is somebody who can fill a lot of different roles. So we’re just happy to have him.”
Teams who pick up Beverley know that getting the opposing team riled up to perform better is a risk when it comes to fielding Pat Bev. However, he’s proven over the years that his trash talking is what makes him one of the more valuable players despite his advanced age.
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