The Boston Celtics lost their final preseason game against the Toronto Raptors 119-118. The game came down to the wire, with both teams trading the lead in the final minutes, making for an exciting preseason finale. The Celtics trailed by two until J.D. Davison made a step-back three with 26.1 seconds remaining, putting Boston up 118-117. But, on the next possession, D.J. Carton was fouled and sank both free throws to put Toronto back on top. Jordan Walsh was then blocked in the final seconds, sealing the victory for the Raptors. This officially ends the Boston Celtics preseason with a 4-1 record.
A Back-and-Forth Game
The Boston Celtics did not get off to a hot start in this game. The Raptors built a sizeable lead in the first quarter and led 46-27. Scottie Barnes and Gradey Dick played especially well for Toronto, helping them get out ahead against most of the Celtics starters. Barnes had 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists— a near triple-double while shooting 10-of-17 and 5-of-9 from three. Dick scored 27 points, shooting 12-of-21 and 3-of-8 from three.
But the Celtics stormed back in the second quarter. The Celtics went on a 19-0 run to tie the game at 46 and by halftime, they led 67-66. Part of what sparked this run was the play of Jayson Tatum. Tatum had 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. The Boston Celtics star made multiple highlight plays, with transition pull-up three-pointers and emphatic dunks. Because of how badly the first quarter went, Tatum ended up being the only Celtics starter with a positive plus-minus of +13.
In the third quarter, the Raptors pulled ahead again and had an 11-point lead going into the fourth quarter. In the game’s final quarter, the Boston Celtics fought back and made it interesting down the stretch. It was the most competitive game of their entire preseason, coming down to the final shot where Jordan Walsh was met at the rim by Toronto’s Branden Carlson in a game-ending block.
Boston’s Standout Performances
The biggest standout performance for the Boston Celtics was Jayson Tatum. His previously mentioned stat line was impressive, and Tatum’s shot looked smooth and fluid. Tatum was the spark that ignited the Celtics second quarter run to get back in the game. The other Celtics starters were Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Al Horford, and Payton Pritchard. Derrick White had 20 points on 7-of-20 shooting and Jaylen Brown had 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting.
For Al Horford, this was the first game he’d played in the entire preseason. Horford struggled, though, with 2 points on 1-of-6 shooting. The veteran center has been resting for most of the preseason, with Luke Kornet starting in his place. Against the Raptors, Kornet had a strong showing, with 10 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting and 6 rebounds. With Kristaps Porzingis missing time, the center position was expected to go to Al Horford, but Luke Kornet has shown noticeable improvement this preseason, which could make the decision more difficult than originally thought.
Another standout was Jordan Walsh. Walsh had only 7 points but got extensive playing time and was one of the Celtics go-to guys down the stretch. Walsh has gotten minutes throughout the preseason and has proven to be very effective in those minutes. With his length and athleticism, he can play good defense, play in transition, and get to the basket, while also hitting the occasional three-pointer. He has shown a clear desire to crack the Boston Celtics 15-man roster and become a rotational piece.
Final Thoughts
While the Boston Celtics came up short in their final preseason game, there are still many positives. The Celtics finished the preseason with a 4-1 record and many players made positive strides. Now, it will be decision time, as Boston must select its 15-man roster and prepare for the regular season ahead.
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