CLEVELAND – The Celtics bring a certain level of comfort Payton Pritchard off the bench, and he will remain a reserve due to his increased performance.

Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla could have inserted Pritchard into the starting lineup for Sunday’s showdown with the Cavaliers Derrick White (foot) and Jaylen Brown (Illness) were cut, but with Pritchard fitting well into the second unit and emerging as the top scorer off the bench, they are inclined to keep him in that role.

Sam Hauser got the start for Boston, with Pritchard retaining his reserve role.

“I don’t want to make absolute statements, but I like what he does off the bench,” Mazzulla said. “His ability to play in long stints, coming off the bench in the middle of the first (quarter) and second half, really gives us a different look. I don’t want to say we won’t use him, but I like what he can bring to us in that role and I think he’s kind of enjoying that role and taking responsibility for it.”

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was asked about Pritchard and he said he watched live as the Celtics guard fueled the Bulls for 19 points in 6:35 minutes.

“You have to find the right match, right?” said Atkinson. “He has developed into an elite goalscorer off the bench. He basically won the game in Chicago. I saw this at home. That’s the sign of a great team. They have people who have evolved to be able to pull it off if the main cast isn’t having a great night. They add Hauser. Payton has obviously taken another leap, which is great for him, great for the Celtics, but now when he comes off the bench you’re like, ‘Man, we better get a match against him.’ You don’t get your worst Use defenders.

“You get one of your top guys on him. He plays so well.”

Mazzulla said the Celtics will have to prepare for a greater defensive emphasis from Pritchard, who is averaging a career-high 16.5 points per game and shooting 44 percent from the 3-point line.

“I think it helps more in the pick-and-roll combinations,” he said of the defensive shift toward Pritchard. “The Payton (Jayson Tatum) Pick-and-roll combinations exist. His screening has gotten better. Because of his effectiveness and continued improvement, our pick-and-roll combinations have simply grown. We can even achieve some off-ball situations because he creates those advantages. I think it just adds a layer to the different plays we have and makes it more of a threat.”

The Celtics had listed White, who left Friday’s win over the Bulls with a sore right foot, as questionable for Sunday. But he failed against the Cavaliers, and he was joined by teammate Brown, who missed Sunday due to a non-COVID-19 illness. Mazzulla said Brown just wasn’t feeling well Sunday morning.

Mazzulla said he didn’t expect White’s foot injury to be a long-term situation.

In return, the Celtics decided to do so Kristaps Porzingis And Al Horford available despite having another game against the Heat on Monday. Neither center has played back-to-back games this season, meaning the Celtics could be thin at center against them Bam Adebayo and the heat.

The Celtics’ best option is to use Luke Kornet, Neemias QuetaAnd Xavier Tillman in the middle, now that they are completely healthy in the middle.

The Cavaliers welcomed back two players who were unavailable in their first meeting last month. Isaac Okoro And Caris LeVert were in the lineup on Sunday Dean Wade And Max Strus were outside. . . Jrue holiday was considered questionable due to tightness in the right adductor area, but was in the starting lineup.

Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.