Payton Pritchard scores 24 points, Celtics roll past Ja Morant

By KYLE HIGHTOWER AP Sports Writer

Payton Pritchard hit five 3-pointers, scored 24 points and had nine assists and the Boston Celtics used a big second half to run past the Memphis Grizzlies 131-95 on Wednesday night.

The Grizzlies played without Ja Morant, the star guard who sat out because of a right ankle injury sustained Tuesday night in a loss at New York.

Derrick White added 20 points for Boston, and Jaylen Brown had 19.

The Celtics never trailed, made 21 3-pointers and led by 38 points. They also pushed the Grizzlies around inside, outrebounding them 58-41 and holding a 34-12 edge in second-chance points.

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 18 points for Memphis, which lost for the seventh time in eight games. Santi Aldama finished with 14 points.

Morant had appeared in five straight games