It wasn’t precisely Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo, however in a Summer season League rematch of the Jap Convention Finals, the Celtics gave up (one other) fourth quarter run to the Warmth and misplaced 99-88 in Boston’s first motion of the 2023 Vegas Summer season League.

Sport 9 to be decided at a later date.

All eyes had been on Boston’s final two consecutive second spherical picks, J.D. Davison and this yr’s thirty eighth decide, Jordan Walsh.

J.D. Davison led the Summer season League in assists final July and averaged 13.2 factors, 4.5 rebounds, and seven.7 assists in 26 video games in Maine. Sporting a much bigger body this yr, Davison seemed to once more command the Celtics in Sin Metropolis and hopefully, safe a roster spot with the large membership for subsequent fall after spending final season on a two-way contract.

Davison racked up 5 turnovers, however completed with 14 factors and 11 assists with a robust run down the stretch. Miami’s aggressive protection typically doubled and trapped him above the break, attempting to forestall him from utilizing his pace as a weapon. He hit simply 5 of his 14 photographs, however stayed efficient penetrating the center of the ground and getting out in transition.

Walsh hit his first 4 threes of the sport and completed with a team-high 18 factors. After signing a four-year, $7.6 million contract this week, he’s set to be a potential 3&D choice off the bench for head coach Joe Mazzulla at solely 19-years-old.

“When he got here for his second draft exercise, we did 100 spot 3’s, he was within the 50’s in Could and 74 in late June,” Brad Stevens stated. “In order that exhibits you there’s work being put in. It exhibits you he’s acquired the contact to be shooter.”

His protection was as marketed — an extended, athletic perimeter disruptor with an lively motor. He had 5 fouls to go together with two steals and a block.

“For me at this level, it’s about taking part in my position to one of the best capability I can. I do know that my purpose is play with the blokes on the sideline like Jayson Tatum. I gotta make open photographs and do the soiled work and that’s what I’m getting ready for,” Walsh informed NBATV’s Chris Haynes.

Justin Champagnie, who’s taking part in on a non-guaranteed contract after being added to the roster in April, struggled in his thirty minutes, making simply 3-of-13 from the sector and completed a -19 as a SL starter.

Jay Scrubb, who averaged 22.3 factors per recreation for Orlando’s G-League workforce, had 17 factors. Justin Bean chipped in 13 and Olek Balcerowski had 8 and 5 within the loss.

In fact, take every thing with a grain of salt. That is one recreation — the primary recreation — on a Saturday afternoon of Summer season League. First spherical draft picks try to point out out. Others are combating for end-of-the-bench spots and two-way contracts. Competitors and workforce play might be skewed to these particular person motivations.

Nonetheless, we did get our first have a look at what may very well be a part of the close to and long-term way forward for the Celtics. With departures of Marcus Sensible, Grant Williams, and to a lesser extent, Danilo Gallinari, Boston is on the lookout for gamers to fill out their common season rotation with clear wants on the wing and guard positions.