The Celtics closed out their preseason schedule on a high note Wednesday night, holding on for a 110-108 win over the Raptors thanks to some late game heroics from a veteran big man.
Xavier Tillman hit the game-winner with two seconds left in the win, setting the stage for him to be Wednesday night’s “Name to Know” Player of the Game. The Name to Know Player of the Game is sponsored by John’s Sewer and Drain Cleaning, the Name to Know when your drains don’t flow.
Tillman came up big in the fourth quarter with top scorer Derrick White (33 points) sitting out crunch time in the preseason matchup after playing 35 minutes. The 26-year-old helped to spark a 12-0 run in the final four minutes by Boston to break up a 94-94 tie by scoring all seven of his points in the final frame including a clutch 3-point shot.
The Raptors fought back late and tied the game with a 14-2 run of their home before Tillman secured the victory for Boston with a 11-foot floater off an inbounds pass from Baylor Scheierman with 1.4 seconds remaining in regulation.
“It feels amazing,” Tillman said. “Those are the moments that I kind of really relish. It helps you stay motivated to the consistent day-to-day grind. You just get a chance to really kind of shine and let your work do the talking. So those are my favorite moments, for sure.”
After struggling for most of last season due to injuries and shooting woes, Tillman looks ready to be a factor in Boston’s big man rotation to begin the year after a strong preseason. The Celtics are set to kick off the regular season on Wednesday night when they host the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.
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