The Boston Celtics continued their preseason dominance with a 115-111 victory over the Toronto Raptors, led by their reserves. Jordan Walsh and Lonnie Walker IV stood out, with Walsh recording a double-double and making a case for playing time. Walker showcased his scoring ability with 20 points, including strong shooting from outside. Despite a quiet night for rookies Baylor Scheierman and Antone Watson, Payton Pritchard impressed with 19 points, while Drew Peterson added 23 points in the second half.
Veteran Al Horford is set to make his preseason debut in the final exhibition game in Toronto after sitting out the first four games. Horford’s return will add depth to the frontcourt as the Celtics work to replace injured center Kristaps Porzingis. Coach Joe Mazzulla may opt to start Luke Kornet and bring Horford off the bench to manage workload and minutes.
The Celtics rookie Jordan Walsh humorously shared that he still considers himself a rookie until he receives a championship ring, despite already winning an NBA title. He recounted an embarrassing rookie hazing moment when he was made to dance to a Boyz II Men song by Coach Mazzulla during a team meeting last season.
With Mazzulla evaluating the depth and potential rotations, players like Walsh and Walker are making strong cases for increased playing time. The Celtics aim to carry their preseason success into the regular season, with key players like Horford returning to bolster the team. Boston fans can look forward to seeing how the roster takes shape heading into the start of the NBA season.
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