What?: Lofton, Thomas, Pritchard Headline NBA Stat Lines on the Final Day of the Season

What?: Lofton, Thomas, Pritchard Headline NBA Stat Lines on the Final Day of the Season

By: Bobby Cushing



The final day of the NBA season: where star players sit and no names play like they're at their local YMCA. 


The Celtics and the Hawks played yesterday, and both teams solidified in the playoffs. This game had combined ELEVEN players sitting out. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Trae Young, Dejounte Murray, etc. all sitting out, which means players like Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Mike Muscala are the top-scoring options, which always leads to some fun basketball. 


Let's take a look at some of the wild stat lines from the NBA, not top players:


Kenny Lofton Jr. Memphis Grizzlies

42 Points 14 Rebounds 0 Assists

Lofton was just called up from the G League due to the loss of Steven Adams for the year. With no Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson, Desmond Bane, and more. Kenny Lofton was left as the top option. He took 25 shots, made 17 of them, and added 8 free throws out of 12 attempts. Lofton was impressive at the combine games last year and he finally had his breakout start in the final game of the NBA season. 


Payton Pritchard Boston Celtics

30 Points 14 rebounds 11 Assists 9 3PM

Pritchard has made it public that it does not seem like is going to return to the Celtics unless he can get a bigger role. Pritchard has shown flashes of being a great scorer, but never got the minutes to show himself off to the NBA world. A 30-point triple-double ties him with Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, and Joel Embiid in triple-doubles this season (1). 


Cam Thomas Brooklyn Nets

46 Points 2 Rebounds 1 Assist

Remember when the Nets cleared the house and Cam Thomas was dropping 40 every other game? Yes? Well, it happened again. 29 shots, 8 3-point attempts, and 8 free throws are what it took for Thomas to return to his top form. This performance does bring up the question: Why doesn't he play more in Brooklyn?


Obi Toppin New York Knicks

34 Points 7 Rebounds 5 Assists

Toppin just has a thing for the end of the season. Just last season, April 8-10, in back-to-back games had 35 and then 42. Is Obi Mr. End of the Season or is it just the universe aligning to allow this to happen? Either way, Toppin shows he still can live up to his first-round pick hype. 


Tre Mann Oklahoma City Thunder

24 Points 12 Rebounds 12 Assists

The Mann! Triple-doubles are just flying off the rack like they’re half-off at Walmart. WHO ARE THESE PLAYERS GETTING A TRIPLE-DOUBLE? Some people are calling for stat padding, but a triple-double is still a triple-double.


Theo Pinson Dallas Mavericks

23 Points 13 Rebounds 12 Assists 

Theo Pinson fully took advantage of the Mavericks going full tank to make sure they get a top-10 pick. No Luka, No Kyrie, who else, but Theo Pinson. The former Tar Heel was firing from 30 feet all night and just raining 3-pointers, although it still was not enough to beat the Spurs, in an impressive 138-117 loss. Mark Cuban is now under investigation by the NBA for tanking, but Theo Pinson should be thanking him for getting him another contract because of this game. 


Sam Hauser Boston Celtics

26 Points 6 Assists 8 3PM

Hausermania! This one is not as surprising as the other games, but this is who Sam Hauser is, an absolute sniper. Corner, wing, top of the key? Doesn’t matter, Hauser is strapped. The Celtics are going to need this man to show up again if they want to keep playing for a while. 


These players will go back to their normal roles as the NBA Play-In starts tomorrow with Hawks vs Heat and Timberwolves vs Lakers.


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