After a packed week of NBA preseason games, Boston finally took to the court against the Cavaliers in Cleveland. For coaches and fans of both franchises it was the first opportunity to see their new look teams in a game setting. Boston showcased it’s newest additions and rookies as they took the game 124-113 on the road, Luka Garza led the way with 22 points and 10 boards. Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman both had 16 points and Devin Carter scored 17 points in a fine debut.
Joe Mazulla handed the
coaching keys over to his assistants with Tony Dobbins at the helm for the first half and DJ MacCleay took the reins for the second half of game 1 of the 2026-27 preseason. Boston started with a complete curveball lineup of veteran debutant Mike Conley, Baylor Scheierman, Hugo Gonzalez, Jordan Walsh, and Luka Garza. Cleveland countered with a potential regular season starting lineup with Evan Mobley, Jarret Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylon Tyson, and Peyton Watson.
Paul George started in street clothes, so C’s fans will need to wait to see his first game as a member of the Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, Mitchell Robinson, Sam Hauser, and Ron Harper Jr. joined George on the bench.
Baylor Scheierman scored the first points of the game for Boston, a play after Jaylon Tyson knocked down the first score with a three-pointer. Luka Garza hit on his first triple of the game from the top of the key as both teams settled into the action. Garza snagged a big offensive board and scored with three white Cavs jerseys surrounding him, scores tied 7-7.
With a heavy emphasis on offensive rebounding, the Cavs got out and ran for a ton of early fast breaks, they took an early 5-point lead in the first quarter. Mike Conley flashed a nifty pass deep to the corner to find Hugo Gonzalez wide open, the Spaniard lacing a corner three for his first points of the preseason.
Rookie Chris Cenac Jr. and new signing Devin Carter were the first Celtics off the bench for Tony Dobbins. Cenac Jr. scored his first points of the game with a loud two-handed dunk as Scheierman found him with the assist, wrapping the ball behind his back off a loose ball hustle play. Devin Carter scored his first points as a member of the Boston Celtics with a tomahawk dunk on the break over Watson.
Rookies Milos Uzan and Dillon Mitchell saw time late in the quarter for Boston. Uzan showed the stroke with a triple from the 45, and Carter rattled home a straight-on three of his own as Boston took the lead 30-26. Dillon Mitchell went two for four from the line in his first trips to the NBA free throw line. Boston up by 3 points, 32-29 after one quarter.
Cenac Jr. showed his athleticism early in the second quarter with a fast break two-handed dunk in full stride; Mike Conley found the rook on the break with the assist. Mike Conley showed his veteran savvy as he drove on Mario Hezonja to score on a floater along the baseline. Devin Carter kept up the scoring as he drove into the chest of Peyton Watson to score his tenth point of the game. Carter is staking a claim on the 15th roster spot, as he currently sits on an Exhibit 10 contract.
The Celtics enjoyed an extended training camp in Charleston, South Carolina, and that bonding and chemistry was evident as the newcomers and rookies looked pretty well integrated into the flow of the offense in game one of preseason. Boston kept the pressure on the Cleveland glass; they had 12 offensive rebounds with 5 minutes left in the first half.
Hugo Gonzalez looked good in his second quarter stint with a fluid three-pointer and a Euro step up-and-under layup. Jordan Walsh hit a tough, high arcing jumper over Jarrett Allen as the shot clock expired at the two minute mark, Boston up 65-58. Luka Garza was outstanding in the first half, he played 16 minutes and had 16 points, 7 rebounds (4 offensive), and 2 blocks. Boston took a 9 point lead into the change rooms at the half, 71-62.
Scheierman opened the scoring for Boston in the second half with a deep three-pointer that was all nylon. The Cavliers sat their starters to start the second half. Cleveland reeled off 12 straight points after the Scheirman three, Meleek Thomas, Mario Hezonja active for the home team forcing DJ MacLeay to call a quick timeout. Jordan Walsh broke the scoring drought for Boston in the paint, game tied at 76.
Boston kept the pressure on Cleveland, extending the lead to 5 points, 91-86. DJ MacLeay and the Celtics coaches were cycling through bench players to keep the pace high in the third quarter. Boston was giving up a ton of transition buckets as the third quarter ended, the held on to 99-96 lead after three.
Conley, Garza, Scheierman, and Walsh headed to the bench to watch the final quarter after a decent showing against the Cavs starters sans James Harden. DJ MacLeay brought on Amari Williams, Dillon Mitchell and the training camp players to finish things off. Dillon Mitchell skied for an alley Oop dunk and Tucker DeVries showed the shooting touch drilling back-to-back triples.
It wasn’t a pretty end, but the C’s held on to take a comfortable win on the road. Dillon Mitchell was active for Boston in his first game, stuffing the stat sheet for 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal. First round pick, Chris Cenac Jr. had 7 points, 4 blocks and 8 rebounds, he showed signs of being a contributor during the regular season. Hayden Gray had 6 points on the night and Milos Uzan chipped in 6 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Celtics travel home to Boston for their second preseason game, hosting the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday 10th of October.
