The Boston Celtics got their 2026-27 preseason preparations off to a solid start on Thursday, October 8. Despite sitting their primary rotation, the Celtics overcame a near full-strength Cleveland Cavaliers team to secure an impressive 124-113 victory.
Luka Garza led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds, as the Celtics leaned on him as both a playmaking hub and a rebounding machine. Of course, Garza wasn't the only player to shine. Devin Carter, who is fighting for his NBA future, delivered a solid bench performance, while Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman both showed flashes of their ability throughout the night.
Yet the most impressive feat was Boston dominating the glass despite facing off against Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, Thomas Bryant,
and Erest Udeh Jr. The Celtics won the rebounding battle 56-39, with 21 of their rebounds coming on the offensive side of the floor.
Following Boston's strong start to preseason, Adam Taylor and Billy Calabrese of the 'Celtics Chronicle' podcast broke down what they saw from the Celtics' young players, along with some tweaks to the offensive system when compared to the 25-26 campaign. The duo also discussed Carter's performance and the positive impact Mike Conley had on Boston's pacing and ball movement.
You can watch the full discussion by clicking on the embedded video below.
Watch or listen to the "Celtics Chronicle" podcast on:
- YouTube: https://bit.ly/3QnlPcS
- Spotify: https://bit.ly/4gCWSaX
- Apple: https://bit.ly/4wXHpaB
This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics' second-string rotation impresses against Cleveland Cavaliers
