Jrue Holiday’s contract extension this week made sure that the Celtics’ starting core – which has led the team to the NBA’s best record – remains intact for the foreseeable future.

And while that deal was critical to help Boston sustain its championship hopes, the Celtics got a reminder Friday night that they also boast one of the league’s best backup guards for years to come.

Payton Pritchard inked an extension prior to this season that will keep him with the Celtics through 2028. He’s gotten even better, and showing to be one of the NBA’s best values. A year after he revealed his frustrations publicly about a lack of playing time, Pritchard’s role has expanded and he has continued to seize all his opportunities. The theme continued Friday, as he scored a career-high 31 points and dished out 11 assists to lead the Celtics to an easy 131-98 victory over the 60-loss Hornets.

Luke Kornet scored 16 points with 10 rebounds and Sam Hauser added 16 points for the Celtics, whose top six players – Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and Al Horford – were all unavailable as the team managed the health of its most important players ahead of the playoffs.

Pritchard, who has now played in all 81 of the Celtics’ games this season, has been one of their most reliable performers this year, and Friday was his time to shine. He dominated the shorthanded Hornets with his shot-making and playmaking, pushing the Celtics to an early and comfortable lead almost single-handedly as they never looked back.

Pritchard compiled 13 points and five assists in the first quarter – scoring or assisting on 24 of the Celtics’ first 30 points – as he played all 12 minutes. The Hornets trimmed their deficit to 38-35 early in the second quarter but the Celtics erupted for a 31-8 run to end the half, which included 16 consecutive points that were either scored or assisted by Pritchard.

Pritchard had 23 points and nine assists in the first half, becoming the first Celtic in the play-by-play era to have those numbers in the first half of a game. He was the second player in the NBA to do so this season after Luka Doncic earlier this season.

Pritchard scored his career-high 31st point with three minutes left in the third quarter before he rested for the entire the fourth quarter with the game in hand.