The Boston Celtics opened their 2026 preseason with a 124-113 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night at Rocket Arena. Despite resting their top seven rotation players and operating without head coach Joe Mazzulla on the sideline, the shorthanded Celtics relied on a 22-point performance from Luka Garza and a dominant edge on the offensive glass.
Celtics Rest Star Players and Coaching Staff in Preseason Opener
Thursday night’s exhibition marked an official return to the court 159 days after the Celtics’ season ended in a first-round playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 159-day gap matched the longest break between Celtics games since 2016. Head coach Joe Mazzulla opted to rest his top seven rotation players, keeping Jayson Tatum, Paul George, Derrick White, Neemias Queta, Mitchell Robinson, Sam Hauser, Payton Pritchard, and Ron Harper Jr. out of uniform. Harper sat out due to a shoulder injury suffered earlier in the week in South Carolina.
Mazzulla also stepped away from his usual spot on the bench, choosing instead to watch the game from the film room with video staffers and injured players to gain a different perspective on the floor. Assistant coaches Tony Dobbins and D.J. MacLeay split head-coaching duties for the evening, with Dobbins handling the first half and MacLeay taking over the second. MacLeay reflected on the assignment after the final buzzer.
“I got to be the head coach of the Boston Celtics for a half. Can’t feel anything but gratitude for that. Yeah, it was cool.”
D.J. MacLeay, Assistant Coach
While the Celtics rested their core, the Cavaliers deployed their regular starting lineup for the first half, missing only guard James Harden. Even against Cleveland’s regular contributors, Boston’s reserve unit erupted for 71 points in the first two quarters.
Luka Garza and Devin Carter Lead Boston Reserves to Victory
Luka Garza led all scorers with a dominant double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds, setting an aggressive tone on the glass from the opening tip. Garza secured offensive rebounds in the first half, including one possession where he battled through two Cleveland defenders for boards before draining a three-pointer.
Meanwhile, guard Devin Carter seized an opportunity to cement his case for a permanent roster spot. Waived by the Atlanta Hawks in September following a roster crunch, the former Providence College star signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Boston and quickly made his presence felt. Carter scored 15 of his 17 points in the first half, attacking the basket in isolation and transition while applying relentless full-court ball pressure.
“The main point is picking up full court, showcasing my defensive ability, and just be me on offense.”
Devin Carter, Guard
Carter finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in 25 minutes of action, registering a plus-22 rating. Former Celtics guard Eddie House praised the squad’s effort on Celtics Postgame Live.
“I loved the hustle, by the guys that are fighting to find rotation spots, to get into the rotation and also get onto this team. They played extremely hard. I gotta give credit to management, to the coaching staff, for having these guys ready like that and having them prepared to come out here and play. … Just the way that they played, how hard they played — they played the Celtics way.”
Eddie House, former Celtics guard
Offensive Glass Dominance Powers Boston Past Cleveland
Boston’s relentless pursuit of missed shots proved to be the decisive factor in the contest. The visitors produced a 26-6 edge in second-chance points over the Cavaliers. All five of Boston’s starters snatched an offensive board.
Baylor Scheierman added 16 points for Boston, shooting 4-for-8 from beyond the arc. On the other side, Peyton Watson emerged as a bright spot for Cleveland in his team debut, while Jaylon Tyson paced the Cavaliers with a team-high 14 points in the losing effort. For Cleveland, the defensive breakdowns and inability to close out defensive possessions laid bare areas requiring immediate attention before the regular season begins.
The Celtics return to action on Saturday night, hosting the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden.
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