An hour before the 76ers faced the Celtics in a preseason game Saturday, forward Jaylen Brown broke a sweat as he went through a pregame workout on the TD Garden parquet floor where he created so many memories during his 10 years in Boston.
But this time, he was wearing 76ers gear, an unusual sight. During breaks, some Celtics staffers came over and hugged Brown, and he smiled when fans called his name. Many wore Brown’s No. 7 Celtics jersey, and a few creative supporters had custom-made threads that displayed both his former team and his current one.
Brown, who was traded to Philadelphia in July, did not play Saturday, joining 76ers stars LeBron James and Joel Embiid on the sideline. The Celtics did not acknowledge Brown’s presence during the game, but a team source said the team plans to show a video tribute for him when the 76ers play their first regular-season game at TD Garden this January.
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The Celtics, meanwhile, truly started this new era without him, with their regular starters taking the court together for the first time this preseason.
After falling behind, 8-0, Boston seized control and never relinquished it, eventually rolling to a 144-106 win. Payton Pritchard had 25 points off the bench to lead Boston and Jayson Tatum added 23 points. Boston made 22 of 47 3-pointers (46.8 percent).
Observations from the game:
Mitchell Robinson played 13:46 and started at center for the Celtics in Saturday night's preseason win.
Mitchell Robinson played 13:46 and started at center for the Celtics in Saturday night's preseason win.
⋅ It’s a mistake to read deeply into preseason starting lineups, but Mitchell Robinson opened at center in place of Neemias Queta. It would be a logical choice, because Robinson’s poor free-throw shooting would be less of a hindrance early in quarters, when the Celtics are not in the free-throw penalty.
Robinson might be the best offensive rebounder in the NBA, and he provided an example with an early and loud follow slam. In the second quarter, he kept an offensive rebound alive before converting a 3-point play. There was some anticipatory buzz for the ensuing free throw, but the ball slid off the rim. Of course, starting Robinson does not give him free-throw immunity. He was fouled on a shot attempt to start the third quarter and missed both foul shots.
⋅ Tatum missed four of his first five shots, with the only conversion coming on an uncontested fast-break dunk. But those struggles did not last. He hit consecutive 3-pointers followed by a baseline fadeaway before finding a cutting Sam Hauser for a layup. Tatum said he feels fresh and healthy after having a full summer to rehab the Achilles he injured in May 2025, and he appeared to be moving well Saturday, with no hesitation.
PG ➡️ JT ➡️ 🔨 pic.twitter.com/sShIfQtGHz
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 11, 2026
⋅ Queta was 1 for 8 from the 3-point line last season and has expressed a desire to expand his range. But his lone attempt Saturday was an air-ball.
⋅ When quarters are ending, Pritchard has some of the best two-for-one awareness in the NBA. He provided a boost to close the first period Saturday, when he moved upcourt quickly after a rebound and converted a layup with 34.7 seconds left, just about the perfect time for a two-for-one. Then he capitalized on the second chance when he was fouled with 0.4 seconds to play. Coach Joe Mazzulla really values these mini stretches.
Related: Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla willing to push his stars to their limit, but not beyond it
⋅ Paul George appeared unsettled on offense for much of the first half, understandable considering it was his first game as a Celtic. He had shots swatted or heavily contested, and sometimes the 76ers simply knocked the ball away from him. But even at 36, he retains value as a defender, and he had an impact with active hands and timely deflections. George had three first-half steals and closed the half by hitting a pair of 3-pointers, too. Midway through the third, he came up with his fourth steal and coasted in for a dunk. He finished with five steals in 24 minutes.
⋅ The play of the night went to Baylor Scheierman. Late in the third quarter, the Celtics wing poked away his third steal and rushed toward the sideline to retrieve it. He soared toward fans sitting in the front row and managed to bat the ball ahead to a streaking Hugo Gonzalez, who converted the layup. Plays such as these are nothing new for Scheierman, whose hustle has become so impactful.