BSJ Game Report: Celtics 112, Hornets 103 - Regulars rest, but the rest get the job done

Everything you need to know about the Boston Celtics win over the Charlotte Hornets in their third preseason game, with BSJ insight and analysis:

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics rested their regulars, except for Jaylen Brown, and it looked like it in the early going. Sloppy isn’t the word to describe how bad they were. But the Charlotte Hornets are not very good, and a comeback, even by the third unit, was inevitable. The C’s scored 90 points over the final three quarters, and outscored Charlotte 71-49 in the middle quarters. 

Box Score

HEADLINES

Impressive turnaround: There's really no reason to watch a Friday night preseason game when they're resting the regulars, and there was especially no reason to keep watching after that first quarter. But give the reserves some credit, they kept fighting. The chance to secure a roster spot was a great motivator for these guys. 

Blake Griffin debuts: He was okay. I’m willing to bet that if I asked you to visualize a debut that was described like that, you’d be able to picture how he got to this line: 7 points, 9 rebounds, 1-6 fg (1-4 3pt), 2 turnovers, 2 assists. He’ll need some time to get up to speed.

Jaylen Brown comes out unscathed: This game was too chaotic to be playing him, but he wanted to “keep his rhythm,” so he played. He was his normal self, but every second of the 25:20 he played was full of anxiety. 

TURNING POINT

The Celtics closed the third quarter on a 20-7 run. Justin Jackson was a huge part of that run, hitting three straight 3-pointers that turned an 81-80 deficit into an 89-93 lead. The Celtics never looked back. 

SIX UP

Jaylen Brown: Congratulations, you kept your rhythm. 6-14 shooting, 5-8 from 3, 19 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 turnovers. 

Noah Vonleh: He was awful in the first half (a -5). Pay no attention to all the talk that he was great in this game -- he was great in the second half (+8). It was a necessary turnaround because I haven't seen much that I liked from him all preseason. He was strong in the second half, making hustle plays and finishing with 14 points and 13 rebounds. 

Derrick White: He had everything working in this game. This is the type of game that makes people salivate at the possibilities for him, Malcolm Brogdon and Marcus Smart. White drove, shot well, defended well, and led the team early to keep things close when Charlotte was on fire and Boston was struggling. 

Payton Pritchard: 15 points and 7 assists on the night. He had a couple of sweet moves, including a change of direction drive and layup high off the backboard. He had 8 in the fourth quarter. 

Justin Jackson: He needed those shots to fall. I don’t think he sticks around, but 16 points on 4-8 shooting from 3 was important for him. He also had a huge block to help stifle a late Hornets comeback.

Blake Griffin: I’ll be generous here. He started slow and figured it out later, but he rebounded well and he moved the ball. He had some miscommunications, but overall, it was nice for him to just get some run. 

ONE DOWN 

Grant Williams: He had some nice moves and shot 4-7, but generally an off night for him. 

TOP PLAYS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Blake Griffin keeps throwing shade at the Nets

He keeps calling the situation in Boston “refreshing.” When asked postgame what has impressed him about Boston, he said “the intensity and maturity level of this group is off the charts. Every day when we get to work, it's intense. It's not that we're going forever, but these guys are locked in and nobody has to tell us to be locked in. It's refreshing.”

Add that to this quote from his first media session: “I’m actually very … not surprised, but the amount of maturity and like welcomingness, I don’t know if that’s a word, but it’s a different atmosphere than I was sort of used to, in a good way. They’re very welcoming and everybody, 1 through 15 or however many guys are here, in practice was focused, very encouraging, helpful and you kind of take that for granted because it’s not always the case everywhere you go.”

I don’t think he’s still talking about the Clippers and there's no reason to throw that at the Pistons. The Nets, though -- that's a shade-worthy team. 

It’s funny, and it’s a little bit of a glimpse inside the drama-filled Nets. This past summer gets less and less surprising as time wears on. 

- The Hornets might just be terrible this year

They wanted to win this game. They tried to win this game. And they couldn't beat Boston’s second and third unit with their starters. 

LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier were in the game in the third quarter when the game was falling out of reach. They’ve been blown to smithereens twice this preseason and now this. 

Steve Clifford is in for a long season.