Shortly after the NBA Finals ended in June, Payton Pritchard sat with a pen and paper to write down his lessons from the series. Pritchard’s father, Terry, had long ago suggested journaling to organize his ideas.

The guard often is in unusual the position of being an essential reserve called upon to finish off blowouts against another team’s second and third string.

The 76ers, who’ve been bludgeoned by injuries throughout the season, were missing multiple starters for the Atlantic Division clash. Joel Embiid, Paul George and Caleb Martin all sat out with injuries, as did reserves Andre Drummond and Eric Gordon.