Tuesday night’s penultimate preseason game felt more like a dress rehearsal for the Celtics as they defeated the New York Knicks 123-110. Joe Mazzulla said pregame the plan was to ramp up the minutes of the top six and get them closer to their regular season minutes. The Celtics did just that. Each of Boston’s top six players played over 23 minutes, with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis nearing 30.
Boston jumped out to a 27-point first-half lead behind a barrage of threes. The Celtics scored 78 points on 25-of-46 (54.3%) shooting from the field and 16-of-29 (55.2%) from deep. Seven different Celtics players knocked down a three in the first half. The C’s also recorded 16 first-half assists.
After a red-hot first half, Boston’s top six was sloppy in the third quarter, and New York capitalized, cutting Boston’s lead to just eight. However, a 27-point deficit was too much for New York, who were without Julius Randle, Jalen Brunson, RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Josh Hart to crawl out of.
Jayson Tatum led the way for the C’s with a game-high 28 points and eight rebounds in the win. With the victory, the Celtics improved to 3-1 in the preseason, with one more game left on their preseason slate.
Here are three takeaways from Tuesday night’s win.
Potential preview of the rotation to start the regular season
What Boston’s rotation behind their top six and Payton Pritchard would be has been a bit of a mystery. The Celtics added to their bench this offseason, signing guys like Dalano Banton, Oshae Brissett, and Svi Mykhailiuk. However, it doesn’t look like any of them will be in the rotation to start the season.
Boston went with a starting lineup of White, Holiday, Brown, Tatum, and Porzingis on Tuesday night. Al Horford and Sam Hauser were the first off the bench, with Pritchard following behind them. Luke Kornet checked in for a short stint in the second quarter as the ninth man.
Though the starting lineup will likely depend on the match-up, and matchups could also impact who comes off the bench, it appears Pritchard, Hauser, and Kornet are the players who will see the bulk of the minutes behind the top six.
Al Horford shines with the second unit
Coming off the bench is an unfamiliar feeling for Horford. The 16-year vet has come off the bench just 12 times in his career and never has as a member of the Celtics.
Coming off the bench is a spot Horford could find himself in frequently this season. Assuming the Celtics go with the match-up-based lineup, Horford will likely split time with White in the starting lineup.
If Tuesday night was any indicator, Horford’s play will have no dropoff when coming off the bench. The 37-year-old was all over the court and finished the night with eight points, three rebounds (two offensive), three assists, and a game-high plus-minus of +17 in 23 minutes of work.
Horford’s impact was felt immediately off the bench as he poured in five quick points and had a nice hustle play that resulted in a change of possession.
For someone who’s really never come off the bench, Horford looked like a natural.
“I thought he did a great job,” Mazzulla said postgame. “Al is the kind of guy where it really doesn’t matter what he does, he’s going to be ready to play and do what’s best for the team.”
Kristaps Porzingis is the real deal
Porzingis has been incredible for the Celtics in preseason play, and Tuesday night was no different. The 7-foot-3 big man finished the night with 20 points, eight boards, and two blocks. Porzingis works wonders for the Celtics offense with his ability to score from anywhere on the floor, play off the pick-and-roll, and work as a screener.
The 28-year-old has also been fantastic on the defensive end, excelling in drop coverage. Porzingis was forcing misses at the rim and stopped two pick-and-rolls. Porzingis also forced quite a few misses on the perimeter with his contests.
In three preseason games, Porzingis has averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and a block. Porzingis brings a whole new dimension to this Celtics team, one that can bring them over the hump and raise banner 18. Health permitting, the sky is the limit for Porzingis.
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