The Toronto Raptors handed the Boston Celtics their first preseason loss with a strong 119-118 win. Both the reigning champions and the Raptors fought incredibly hard given it was a preseason game, with the Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla playing some of his core players extended minutes while Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic got his players to hold on to a close win after leading by 24 points early in the game.
The Raptors were led by Scottie Barnes‘ near triple-double, as the former Rookie of the Year put up 26 points (10-17 FG), nine rebounds, and 10 assists. Sophomore Gradey Dick scored 27 points (12-21 FG) with seven rebounds while Ochai Agbaji had 16 points (7-11 FG). Center Jakob Poeltl had an impressive double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds.
The Celtics had Jayson Tatum lead them with 24 points (9-21 FG), eight rebounds, six assists, and three steals in 33 minutes. Derrick White put up 23 points and three blocks while Jaylen Brown contributed with 19 points of his own. Payton Prichard showed off his shooting in a 15-point performance (5-11 3PT).
Here are three major takeaways from this strong preseason outing for both franchises.
A Red-Hot Start For The Raptors
The Raptors overwhelmed the Celtics in the first quarter by jumping out to a 24-point lead behind hot shooting from their stars. Franchise cornerstone Scottie Barnes made four threes while sophomore Gradey Dick went perfect with his shooting, going 3-3. The shooting barrage didn’t stop there with Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead, and Ochai Agbaji all converting one shot as well. This gave Toronto a 46-27 cushion heading into the second quarter, as the team shot 10-14 (71.4%) from deep in the first.
Darko Rajakovic has been trying to implement a new offensive identity in Toronto, with last season showing the team’s greater emphasis on ball movement and shooting. The improvement Barnes has made as a shooter is encouraging for the franchise, as they’ve trusted Barnes to be their next franchise star. He looked comfortable on the court and had success despite being guarded by Tatum.
Gradey Dick scored 15 rapid points in the first quarter, going 6-6 from the field and showing how potent his offensive contributions can be. The No. 11 pick from the 2023 NBA Draft is looking primed for a breakout sophomore season with his comfort showing in this game as he confidently challenged defenders like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White to have an offensive impact on the contest.
Celtics Were Overdependent On Their Shooting
The Celtics have been one of the most active three-point shooting teams in the NBA under Joe Mazzulla, but they’ve taken it to a new level this preseason. After setting a record for most three-point attempts against the Denver Nuggets, the Celtics tried their best to rely on their outside jumpers to beat the Raptors but couldn’t succeed. Boston went 18-55 (32.7%) from three as a team this game.
The team lost the game in the first quarter when they combatted the Raptors’ 71.4% three-point shooting in the first quarter with a 2-12 (16.7%) showing over the same period. Boston’s shot leveled out over the contest and they gave themselves a chance to win at the end, but the team’s overreliance on threes dug them into a hole they couldn’t escape.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla played starters like Jayson Tatum (5-14 3P) and Derrick White (5-14 3P) into the fourth quarter to try and secure the win. JD Davidson has to be credited with making it a one-point game with 12 points in the fourth quarter (2-2 3P). Without bigs like Kristaps Porzingis at their disposal, the Celtics need to find more avenues for reliable two-point generation instead of living and dying by the three.
Al Horford’s Debut
Al Horford is entering year 18 of his NBA career, with the Celtics relying on the 38-year-old to be a significant contributor to the franchise trying to defend their title. He played in his first preseason game of the season against the Raptors and looked rusty, scoring two points (1-6 FG, 0-4 3PT) with two rebounds and one assist. Horford is expected to be the Celtics starting center until Kristaps Porzingis returns.
Horford is going to be one of the underrated keys behind the Celtics’ success this season given his ability as a floor-stretching center is crucial for the Celtics to play their five-out style of basketball. This was the Celtics final preseason game so everyone will hope Horford can work off the rest by next week when Boston hosts ring night against the New York Knicks.
Horford’s position in the rotation might not be as secure as last season, with coach Mazzulla deploying multiple frontcourt combinations also including Luke Kornet (10 points, six rebounds), Xavier Tillman (eight rebounds), and Neemias Queta (four rebounds).
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