CLEVELAND — The Celtics opened the preseason against the Cavaliers on Thursday night by sitting eight of their top rotation players. The Cavaliers, who have just three preseason games this year, played all their regulars in the first half, other than veteran guard James Harden.
But once the game began, the apparent talent disparity was not obvious. Boston’s backups erupted for 71 points in the first half and the Celtics eventually secured a 124-113 win.
Luka Garza had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Celtics and Devin Carter added 17 off the bench. The Celtics were without Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Ron Harper Jr.
Observations from the game:
▪ Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla handed over the reins to assistants Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay, who each coached for one half. Mazzulla said he intended to watch much of the game from the locker room with the team’s video staffers, as well as stars who sat, to gain a unique perspective.
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“Just really see like what I don’t see when I’m out there,” Mazzulla said. “It’s just as much for me as it is them, but I think it’s just seeing the game from a different perspective and also giving those guys an opportunity.”
Assistant Sam Cassell will coach against the 76ers on Saturday night at TD Garden.
▪ Baylor Scheierman has become so comfortable going at his own pace on offense. In the first quarter, he showed good balance on a drive before converting a runner off the glass and soon added an off-the-dribble 3-pointer. But he will be a rotation staple thanks to the plays that followed. He gobbled up a loose ball and whipped a behind-the-back pass to rookie Chris Cenac Jr. for a dunk, then went to the floor to scrap for a steal before finding Garza for a layup while sitting down.
Luka Garza paced the Celtics with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the preseason opener.
Luka Garza paced the Celtics with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the preseason opener.Erin Clark/Globe Staff
▪ The Celtics would once again like offensive rebounding to be a key part of their identity this season. Garza set the tone early. On one possession he battled for a pair of offensive rebounds before the Cavaliers knocked the ball out of bounds. Then he received the inbounds pass and drained a three. On one play, Garza discarded two Cavaliers and devoured another offensive board, then found Jordan Walsh, who drew a shooting foul. In the first quarter, the Celtics grabbed offensive rebounds on 10 of their 19 missed shots, an absurd percentage. That rate slowed over the final three quarters, however.
▪ Garza, whose defensive shortcomings are well known, was probably most pleased with his three blocked shots.
▪ The Celtics will have offensive firepower this year but will be counting on second-year wing Hugo González to be a defensive disruptor. He started Thursday’s game guarding 6-foot-11-inch forward Evan Mobley, which is fun. It’s worth following González on a defensive possession. He is so good at simply blowing up screens and fighting his way back into plays that seem to have left him behind.
▪ Carter, a third-year player, is unlike most players fighting for roster spots this fall. The 13th pick of the 2024 draft averaged 8.9 points per game for the Kings last season. The Hawks waived him last month due to a roster crunch, and the Celtics quickly signed the former Providence star to an Exhibit 10 deal.
Boston has one open regular roster spot and a two-way opening, and Carter showed against Cleveland why he will likely secure one of them. He is a tough, physical guard, and in the first half he absorbed contact repeatedly. He tumbled to the ground after taking a hit on a dunk, sliced through the lane and converted a 3-point play, and even maintained his form after he was fouled in mid-air on a baseline jumper for another 3-point play. He also had several good hustle plays, like a third-quarter backcourt steal that helped slow the Cavaliers’ momentum.
▪ Rookie second-round pick Dillon Mitchell had strong moments in the second half and showed off his athleticism with several above-the-rim moments. He finished with 10 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.