The Boston Celtics squared off in opposition to the Memphis Grizzlies in sport one of many 2025 Las Vegas Summer time League. Cox Pavilion was full for the early 4pm Friday tip-off because the Celtics prevailed 92-78, in an entertaining first Summer time League outing.
Celtics followers had their first take a look at first-round Spanish prospect Hugo Gonzalez as he began alongside Max Shulga, Amari Williams, Jordan Walsh, and Baylor Scheierman.
Gonzalez was the C’s first scorer as he lunged into the lane to tip-in a Scheierman miss for his first factors as a Celtic. Baylor Scheierman scored on his second shot try with a tricky contested floater off the backboard.
Jordan Walsh threw down a loud tomahawk dunk early within the quarter with the rating tied at 8 apiece.
Memphis was moving into the lane with ease, with all 8 early factors scored within the painted space. Grizzlies third-year ahead GG Jackson was the workforce’s main scorer within the Salt Lake Metropolis Summer time League final week, and he was on the scoreboard early.
Rookie Amari Williams blew his first open look of the sport on the basket as he was whistled for a touring violation.
Walsh nailed a deep triple with a participant draped throughout him as Boston took an early 11-10 lead. Summer time League head coach Matt Reynolds went to Kenneth Loften Jr., Miles Norris, and Charles Bassey as the primary three gamers off the C’s bench.
In typical Summer time League trend, issues bought very ugly to finish the primary quarter with each groups struggling to transform any shot makes an attempt. Charles Bassey was in all places on D for Boston, blocking a few early pictures.
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Hugo Gonzalez returned for Boston and instantly pushed the tempo for a driving layup try. Nevertheless, the Spanish product continues to be a piece in progress, as he went 1-5 from the free throw line to begin the sport. Two-way signing Miles Norris nailed his first three-pointer of the sport after which bought fouled taking pictures one other triple to transform on 2 of three free throws.
Amari Williams flashed indicators of his passing skills with a deft cross-court go to Norris, who hit on his deep two-pointer. Norris would lead the Celtics in scoring after one quarter, with 8 factors. Boston led the sport 22-18 after one quarter.
2025 second-round decide Max Shulga confirmed off his inventive playmaking skills to begin the second quarter as he discovered Kendall Brown for consecutive made baskets.
Hugo Gonzalez lastly discovered the web from deep as he transformed on his first triple and his sixth level of the sport. Amari Williams then bought out in transition with a one-two go to Shulga for the simple one-handed jam; Celtics up 31-22.
Walsh continued his strong play as he drove to the outlet for a robust contested dunk. The third-year participant confirmed indicators of creating the suitable reads within the first half. Gonzalez discovered Walsh large open as he hit on his eleventh level of the sport.
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Jordan Walsh then returned the favor as he pushed the tempo to search out Hugo for his second three-pointer of the sport. The Celtics have been rolling, up 15 factors, 47-32.
Memphis was with out Zach Edey, who was sidelined in a boot, and gifted lottery decide Cedric Coward was additionally dominated out, as he rehabs from shoulder surgical procedure. The Grizzlies’ full-court stress began to bother the Boston gamers as they pressured a number of turnovers to finish the half.
Boston took a 49-36 lead into the halftime break in what felt like a frenetically paced sport. Walsh led the C’s with 12 factors, Gonzalez had 9 factors, and Miles Norris had 8 factors.
Matt Reynolds rolled out the identical beginning 5 to start the second half, and Amari Williams scored the C’s first factors with two made free throws. Baylor Scheierman lastly hit on his fifth three-point try, with a fast shot coming round a display on the high of the important thing.
Memphis continued the full-court stress to begin the second half, and so they got here again into the sport. Amari Williams’ hook shot halted the Memphis momentum, and Max Shulga’s three-pointer gave Boston a slim lead of 60-53.
Isaiah Wong snuck into the lane and hit a reasonably floating jumper, his first factors of the night time. Charles Bassey was extraordinarily energetic for Boston off the bench on each ends of the court docket. Scheierman discovered the rolling huge for the loud alley-oop jam.
Gonzalez drove and dished with a pleasant help to Bassey for his sixth level of the night time. Lofton Jr. additionally supplied some good minutes to finish the third quarter. Boston retained a seven-point lead, up 68-61.
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With 8 minutes to go within the sport, issues bought ugly for the Celtics. A wild errant go from Mile Norris was Boston’s thirteenth turnover of the night time. Norris then fouled Cam Spencer on a three-point try, as Boston’s lead whittled down to only 5 factors.
Scheierman then airballed his eighth three-point try as Boston began to unravel. Estrada hit back-to-back buckets as Memphis had all of the momentum.
Enter, Charles Bassey, who was outhustling all of the Memphis huge males each time he was on the court docket. He generated loads of second likelihood factors for the Summer time Celtics, as he racked up six fast factors within the fourth quarter. Jordan Walsh was but once more left large open from distance, as Scheierman discovered the third yr wing for his fifteenth level of the sport.
Walsh would finish the sport with 17 factors, rookie Hugo Gonzalez had 12 factors and Bassey chipped in 14 factors. Boston will subsequent face the Knicks on Sunday at 5:30 pm.