The Celtics beat the Raptors, 115-111, to advance to 4-0 this preseason, scoring their third straight 30-point lead just before halftime despite Al Horford, Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman Sr. and the team’s five starters sitting out while the reserves played against Raptors starters including Jakob Poetl and Scottie Barnes.
Here are some takeaways ahead of their rematch in the preseason finale in Toronto on Tuesday:
- Horford will play Tuesday at Toronto after sitting out the first four preseason games. Joe Mazzulla said he’s ok physically and that the Celtics have just moved carefully with his ramp-up.
- Lonnie Walker IV hit his first three shots to improve to 9-of-11 from the field after an 0-for-7 start in Abu Dhabi. Mazzulla praised his performance on Saturday, pointing out his defensive positioning, cuts and other small plays that didn’t show up in a nonetheless strong box score that included nine points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals. That earned him a spot start on Sunday that began with a pair of catch-and-shoot three opportunities that he converted before driving after a Neemias Queta offensive rebound for an acrobatic finish inside. He shot 8-for-15, 4-for-9 from three, and scored 20 points in 29 minutes. It’s still difficult to envision a role for him when the Celtics are healthy, and given his luxury tax hit if Boston signs him totaling around $10 million and his willingness to see through a stint in Maine, that still feels like the most likely outcome for him despite some positive returns in game action and an obvious bump in his work ethic since receiving the opportunity with Boston.
- Jordan Walsh also continued his strong preseason run, improving to 6-for-16 from three (37.5%) and attacking closeouts patiently throughout his spot start. His first drive at the basket ended in a dunk attempt where the ball sat on the right side of the rim before rolling in, with an and-one attempt that bounced all over before falling. His first of three offensive rebounds set Walker IV up for his second three. While all indications have been that he’ll probably spend at least part of this season in Maine, his ability to complement the team’s regular cast could carve out a role for him similar to the one Oshae Brissett played in one year ago. His game looks versatile enough to transcend whether or not shots are going in or out, and his activity around the basket should have the Celtics rethinking the possibilities for him on the offensive end. He can screen, roll and rebound, grabbing 10 boards in 30 minutes on Sunday.
- Queta struggled around the rim in his spot start, shooting 0-for-4 to open the game while grabbing many of his misses on his way to 15 rebounds (6 offensive). He finished 3-for-8 with 12 points, shooting 6-for-6 at the free throw line, while one of his misses was a heave at the end of the quarter. On defense, he continued to play in different coverages, including the middle of the zone, while he created out of the high post on offense. All signs going back to summer that the Celtics have hope for him contributing, but also showing plenty of room for growth on both ends. An underrated stride has been his lack of fouling, only committing one in 21 minutes on Sunday after receiving 0 calls the day before. That and his high post creation game, serving five assists in the dribble handoff game, put him in a stronger position to succeed this year when he plays, and he will.
- Dmytro Skapintsev logged the second unit minutes over Anton Watson, who didn’t play until the fourth quarter. Skapintsev, an Exhibit 10 signing late in the offseason, posted two rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 15 minutes. Baylor Scheierman missed all six shots to fall to 4-for-24 this preseason.
- Jaden Springer made both of his three-point attempts after not appearing in Saturday’s game, a positive sign after he finished 1-for-6 in Abu Dhabi from the field, but his offensive development looks even behind Walsh’s right now and with him slotting more into the guard position than the wing, he could be poised for some time in Maine when all of Boston’s guards are available. JD Davison hit a pair of threes in four tries, dished five assists and turned it over three times in his second half minutes.
