Career highs are interesting stat to look at when examining different players, especially scorers. While it’s not close to being the most important part of a player’s career it’s a fun detail. The NBA Champion Boston Celtics are loaded with talent including a plethora of gifted scorers. Let’s dive into the career-high for each current Celtics player.
Career Highs for Every Current Boston Celtic
Jayson Tatum: 60 vs. San Antonio Spurs April. 30, 2021
The 2020-21 season was a weird one for the Celtics who finished as the seventh seed. However, Jayson Tatum‘s 60-point performance in a 32-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs will always be memorable. Tatum’s 60-point outburst included 21 points in the fourth quarter and 10 points in overtime to secure a 143-140 win. Tatum complemented his 60 points with eight rebounds and five assists. With his 60-point game, Tatum tied Larry Bird for the most points by a Celtic in a single game.
Jrue Holiday: 51 vs. Indiana Pacers March. 29, 2023
Jrue Holiday has an elite all-around game. While many recognize Holiday for superb defense his shot-creation and scoring abilities can be forgotten about. Late in the 2022-23 season when Holiday was a member of the Milwaukee Bucks his scoring abilities were on full display. Holiday notched a career-high 51 points in a 149-136 win over the Indiana Pacers. Additionally, Holiday also chipped in eight rebounds and assists. Notably, Giannis Antetokounmpo also scored 38 points and recorded a triple-double.
Jaylen Brown: 50 vs. Orlando Magic January. 2, 2022
Jaylen Brown’s ability to score in bunches from everywhere on the court has been highly valuable for the Celtics. On January 2nd, 2022, Brown exploded for 50 points, in a 116-111 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic. Crucially, Brown carried the offensive load while Tatum was out. Brown also chipped in 11 rebounds, four assists, and five three-pointers highlighting his all-around impact. Impressively, Brown’s 50-point outburst included an absurd 21 4th-quarter points and plenty of clutch shots.
Kristaps Porzingis: 43 vs. Atlanta Hawks March. 8, 2023
Kristaps Porzingis’ career high came while he was a part of the Washington Wizards. The 7-foot-2 big man notched seven threes, five rebounds, and five assists in a two-point loss against the Atlanta Hawks. Porzingis’ seven threes highlight his elite positional shooting. Impressively, Porzingis finished the night with an absurd 92.2 true shooting percentage.
Derrick White: 38 vs. Miami Heat April. 29, 2024
Throughout the past season and Boston’s championship run, Derrick White’s importance to the team was on full display. In the Celtics first-round series against the Heat White played the best basketball of his career. White posted averages of 22.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. However, he truly exploded in a Game 4 victory posting a career-high 38 points including eight threes. Ironically White’s second most points came in the 2019 playoffs as a member of the Spurs White poured in 36 points in a Game 3 win over the Denver Nuggets. Excluding the playoffs White’s career high is 33 points which came in a win against the Charlotte Hornets in February 2023.
Payton Pritchard: 38 vs. Washington Wizards April. 14, 2024
Fan favorite Payton Pritchard is well-known for his bench scoring. With the Celtics starters out for the last game of the 2024 regular season it was Pritchard’s time to shine. He caught fire pouring in 38 points and four threes. Pritchard also nearly had a triple with 12 rebounds and nine assists. The Celtics beat the Wizards 132-122 for their 64th win of the season.
Al Horford: 34 (x 2)
Al Horford’s consistency and leadership have been vital to the Celtics’ success. Given Al’s extreme consistency, it’s only fitting he’s matched his career high twice. In addition to posting 34 points in two games, Horford grabbed exactly 15 in both games. Both his career high games were with the Hawks where Horford spent much of his prime. The first game was on February 27th, 2013 in a win over the Utah Jazz while the second game was on December 13th in a victory over the Washington Wizards. Notably, in the second game Al hit an overtime buzzer beater to secure a win for the Hawks.
Lonnie Walker: 31 vs. Milwaukee Bucks March. 20, 2021
Newly signed Lonnie Walker is a talented scorer with tons of athleticism. With the Spurs in the 2020-21 season, Walker had a career-high 38 starts he also scored a career-high 31 points in a mid-March game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Walker netted five threes and boasted a 73.8 true shooting percentage.
Sam Hauser: 30 vs. Washington Wizards March. 17, 2024
Sam Hauser is one of the league’s best spot-up shooters. This past season on Saint Patrick’s Day special Hauser was unconscious from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-8 sharpshooter drained 10 threes in just 23 minutes before leaving the game with an injury. If he hadn’t gotten hurt Hauser could have hit even more threes. Notably, Hauser finished the game with a ridiculous 115.4 true shooting percentage.
Luke Kornet: 25 vs. Philadelphia 76ers February. 9 2020
Luke Kornet has been a rotational big man for the Celtics for several years now. However, Kornet has also had stints with the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers. With the Bulls in 2019-2020, Kornet started in 14 out of 36 games. In February 2020, he dropped a career-high 25 points in 29 minutes.
Xavier Tillman: 22 vs. Los Angeles Lakers April. 19, 2023
The Celtics acquired Xavier Tillman this past trade deadline from the Memphis Grizzlies. While he only averaged 13.7 minutes per game Tillman’s high IQ and well-rounded skill set make him an intriguing option for rotational minutes, especially with Porzingis out to start the season. Furthermore, on the Grizzlies Tillman proved he can contribute to winning basketball. In 2023 during a Game 2 win against the Los Angeles Lakers Tillman notched a career-high 22 points while chipping in 13 rebounds and three assists. Tillman’s regular season career high is 20 which he’s scored on two separate occasions.
Neemias Queta: 19 vs. Washington Wizards April. 14, 2024
Neemias Queta is a mobile young big man. In the final game of the 2024 regular season, there were plenty of minutes open for Queta and he did not disappoint. In 20 minutes Queta scored 19 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and recorded six blocks to help the Celtics close out the regular season on a strong note.
Springer: 19 vs. Atlanta Hawks April. 7, 2023
Jaden Springer is an intriguing young guard. While Springer is already an NBA-level defender, his offense needs to catch up. With the Philadelphia 76ers in late 2023 Springer showed a glimpse of what he might look like with a consistent offensive game. Earning the start Springer notched 19 points in 44 minutes en route to an overtime win over the Hawks.
