**Buzzer-Beater Loss: Doc On Pritchard's Shot**

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Post on Oct 30, 2024

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Buzzer-Beater Loss: Doc Rivers on Pritchard's Shot

The Boston Celtics suffered a heart-breaking loss to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night, falling 108-106 after a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Gary Trent Jr. The Celtics, who led for most of the game, had a chance to win it in regulation but missed a potential game-winning shot in the final seconds.

After the game, Celtics coach Doc Rivers was asked about the final play and what happened. Here's what he had to say:

Doc on Pritchard's Shot

"We had a great look. We had a lot of different options there, but ultimately, it was a tough shot for Payton [Pritchard]," said Rivers. "He had a defender in his face, and the clock was winding down. It was a tough shot, and it didn't go in."

Pritchard, who had a solid game with 16 points, was the one with the ball in his hands as the clock ran out. He drove to the basket, but with the defense collapsing on him, he decided to pull up for a jump shot. The shot was off the mark, and the Raptors got the rebound.

"He had to make a decision. He thought he had a good look, and he took it. We can't fault him for that," Rivers said. "Sometimes those shots go in, sometimes they don't. This time, it didn't."

Takeaways from the Loss

Despite the loss, the Celtics displayed some encouraging signs. They showed resilience in the face of adversity, coming back from an early deficit to take the lead. They also played solid defense for most of the game, limiting the Raptors' scoring opportunities.

However, the Celtics also need to work on their offensive execution in crunch time. They missed several key shots down the stretch, which ultimately cost them the game.

"We have to learn from this," Rivers said. "We have to find a way to close out games. We had a chance to win this game, but we didn't."

Looking Ahead

The Celtics will have to quickly put this loss behind them as they face a tough schedule ahead. They will face the Raptors again on Friday night in Toronto before embarking on a road trip that includes games against the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic.

The Celtics will need to make adjustments and improve their play in crucial moments if they want to succeed in the upcoming games and the rest of the season.