si
The Boston Celtics delivered a commanding performance in their preseason home opener, dismantling the Philadelphia 76ers 144-106. The 76ers opted to rest Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid, along with other rotation players, while Boston fielded most of their regulars.
Boston started slowly, their timing noticeably off, but they responded to an early 10-2 Sixers run with a 22-10 surge to close the first quarter, largely fueled by Jayson Tatum. In the second quarter, the Celtics pulled away by capitalizing on six Philadelphia turnovers for 12 points and converting 11 of 13 free throw attempts. The third quarter saw Boston explode for 41 points on 57.7% shooting, including 50% from beyond the arc, to put the game out of reach.
Player Grades
Jayson Tatum (23 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal): A+ Tatum played the entire first quarter and immediately silenced any doubts about his form. He finished with 23 points in 26 minutes, shooting 47.4% from the field and 40% from three. His confident, aggressive play and sharp decision-making were on full display. In short, he was Jayson Tatum.
Derrick White (15 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal): B+ A solid outing from White, who seemed more disruptive defensively than his single steal suggests. It was a typical all-around performance, though his 1-5 shooting from deep was the only blemish.
Jordan Walsh (6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal): B Walsh did everything asked of him: knocked down open shots, defended well, rebounded, and set screens. He earned the start, and regardless of his role, this is exactly the kind of play Boston needs from him.
Mitchell Robinson (6 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist): B Robinson was as advertised: he attacked the offensive glass, protected the rim, and struggled at the free throw line.
Paul George (13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals): B George's shot took time to fall, but his defense was locked in from the start. He led the Celtics with five steals, four in the first half, and helped build a 21-point halftime lead. His timing still needs work, but he looked more comfortable in the second half.
Payton Pritchard (25 points, 4 rebounds, 7 assists): A Pritchard caught fire, shooting 7-12 from the field (5-8 from three) and a perfect 6-6 from the line. He also posted a team-best +35, strengthening the case for him as the sixth man anchoring non-Tatum lineups.
Baylor Scheierman (3 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 5 steals): B+ Scheierman made a significant impact without attempting a shot. His best sequence: a hustle play to set up Hugo Gonzalez for a layup, followed by a brilliant read off a baseline drive for a three-point assist to Pritchard. It's encouraging to see him contribute without forcing his offense—great recognition and patience.
Sam Hauser (11 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal): B A nice, steady night of shot-making and doing the little things well. Sign me up for a full season of this kind of play.
Neemias Queta (6 points, 10 rebounds): B Queta showcased good chemistry, contrasting with Robinson, who is still adjusting to new teammates. He was in the right spots to finish plays and was rewarded with a couple of alley-oops.
Hugo Gonzalez (17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists): B+ A fantastic night, highlighted by a perfect 4-4 from three. Finding consistency from deep will be key, but his feel for the game—like his cut and subsequent pass to finish a beautiful sequence—truly stands out.
Luka Garza (8 points, 6 rebounds (5 offensive), 1 block): B+ This is what Garza does.
John Karalis is a 20-year veteran of Celtics coverage and was nominated for NSMA's Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year in 2019. He has hosted the Locked On Celtics podcast since 2016 and has written two books about the Celtics. John was born and raised in Pawtucket, RI. He graduated from Shea High School in Pawtucket, where he played football, soccer, baseball, and basketball and was captain of the baseball and basketball teams. John graduated from Emerson College in Boston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism and was a member of their Gold Key Honor Society. He was a four-year starter and two-year captain of the Men's Basketball team, and remains one of the school's top all-time scorers, and Emerson's all-time leading rebounder. He is also the first Emerson College player to play professional basketball (Greece). John started his career in television, producing and creating shows since 1997. He spent nine years at WBZ, launching two different news and lifestyle shows before ascending to Executive Producer and Managing Editor. He then went to New York, where he was a producer and reporter until 2018. John is one of Boston's original Celtics bloggers, creating RedsArmy.com in 2006. In 2018, John joined the Celtics beat full-time for MassLive.com and then went to Boston Sports Journal in 2021, where he covered the Celtics for five years. He has hosted the Locked On Celtics podcast since 2016, and it currently ranks as the #1 Boston Celtics podcast on iTunes and Spotify rankings. He is also one of the co-hosts of the Locked on NBA podcast. Follow John_Karalis.