Celtics sneak 98-97 win over Magic in preseason opener

It didn’t take much time for the 2021-2022 Boston Celtics to deliver some drama. On Monday night, a Romeo Langford three pointer with 14.2 seconds left proved to be the difference in a 98-97 win over the Orlando Magic in the preseason opener.

Despite is being a preseason game, head coach Ime Udoka stuck with a regular rotation for most of the first half. Four of the Celtics’ five starters played at least 20 minutes, with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum playing 26 and 25 respectively.

With that much time on the floor, fans got a good look at the Celtics’ key new and returning players. Here’s a quick glance at some notable performances…

• Jaylen Brown

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  In his first game back after a wrist injury prematurely ended his season last spring, Jaylen Brown dropped a game-high 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting. At the time of his injury last year, there was some speculation Brown could miss the beginning of this season. Monday night's performance showed that likely won't be the case.

• Jayson Tatum

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  Jayson Tatum nearly picked up a double-double, with 18 points and nine rebounds. He shot 6-of-16 from the floor, and added three steals on defense.

• Marcus Smart

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  Fresh off his new contract extension, Marcus Smart shot just six times in 24 minutes, hitting two shots to record four points. He was 0-of-3 from beyond the arc.
• Robert Williams

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  Monday wasn't Robert Williams' best offensive performance - the 23 year old was 0-of-7 from the field, scoring a lone point on a free throw. However, he did pick up five rebounds and two blocks in 20 minutes.

• Aaron Nesmith

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  Aaron Nesmith was the top scorer off the Celtics' bench in this one. He recorded 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 15 minutes on the floor.

• Al Horford

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  In his first game back with the Celtics, Al Horford looked like the do-it-all player he was when he left. He had five points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes.
• Dennis Schroder

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  In 20 minutes on the floor, Dennis Schroder finished 1-of-7 from the field, but ended up scoring six points by getting himself to the free throw line four times. He also added four assists and two steals to his stat line.

The Celtics play their second of three preseason games on Saturday, when they host the Toronto Raptors. You can catch the call of that game on 98.5 The Sports Hub, starting at 7 p.m.

Click here for 98.5 The Sports Hub’s complete coverage of the Celtics.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.