The Celtics dropped their final tuneup of the preseason on Tuesday night, falling 119-118 to the Raptors at ScotiaBank Arena. Jordan Walsh had a chance for the win at the buzzer for Boston but had his layup attempt blocked as time expired as a late Celtics rally fell short.
The hosts led by as many as 22 points in the first quarter after an explosive shooting performance with 46 points in the opening 12 minutes. The Celtics fought back with a 19-0 run to start the second quarter to bring Boston back into the game. Joe Mazzulla played his regulars for the first 40 minutes of the game before handing things over to the second unit, which fell short in their chance for a comeback.
Jayson Tatum had team-high 24 points in the setback while Derrick White chipped in with 23 points. Gradey Dick had a game-high 27 points in the win for the hosts while Scottie Barnes almost had a triple-double (26 points, 9 rebounds, 10 assists). Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser got the night off due to rest.
Boston closes out the preseason with a 4-1 record while the Raptors improved to 2-2 with the victory.
Here are four Celtics takeaways from Tuesday’s game:
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Al Horford looks rusty in his preseason debut: The veteran big man was back in the starting five for his first appearance of the exhibition season and played 23 minutes. However, the 38-year-old looked like a guy just getting his feet wet after a long layoff. Horford’s jumper was rusty, going 1-of-6 overall including 0-of-4 from 3-point range. He also struggled on the glass against an energetic Raptors squad (two rebounds), which is an area to keep an eye on as the season progresses. Despite some questioning whether Horford should come off the bench, his starting spot in place of Kristaps Porzingis looks secure. It may be a bit of an extended preseason for him though when the regular season begins after the long layoff.
Rotation gets a dry run: There were some notable absences beyond Kristaps Porzingis with Holiday and Hauser getting the night off but Joe Mazzulla treated this game like it mattered for the opening three and a half quarters. Tatum played 34 minutes, talking himself into some additional minutes at various points. White played 31 minutes. Jaylen Brown played a lighter load but we got an idea of who Mazzulla trusts off the bench. For now, there was a heavy emphasis on the bigs with a couple perimeter players down as Xavier Tillman and Luke Kornet both played above 20 minutes. Jordan Walsh (24 minutes) also delivered another solid outing despite missing the game-winner, solidifying his hold on the Oshae Brissett role off the bench. He won’t play when this team is whole but there will be a chance for him when he’s down a couple regulars.
Double big lineups get a lot of looks: Mazzulla liked to play with extra size for much of last season in the bench and we saw that on display in this final tuneup. Horford, Tillman, Kornet and Neemias Queta took the floor in pairs of two at various points of the game. Kornet and Tillman looked particularly good together during a 19-0 run for the Celtics at the start of the second quarter. Tillman struggled from 3-point range (0-of-3) but has been a major plus in that department all preseason long. If he can keep opposing defenses honest while playing power forward, that would be a big boost in helping keeping some extra bulk on the floor against second units.
Lonnie Walker doesn’t see action: Despite a strong weekend showing at TD Garden, Mazzulla gave the veteran guard a DNP-CD in his final preseason game. The Celtics have until this weekend to make a decision on whether to keep him as a 15th man on the roster but odds remain likely that the team will keep that spot open for additional flexibility. If Walker clears waivers after being cut, the Celtics will be hopeful that he’s willing to spend some time in Maine within the team’s system while waiting for an opportunity in Boston or elsewhere.
