Stars, Studs, And Uh-uhs From Celtics Preseason Loss to Raptors

Jaylen Brown had team-high 23 points while Sam Hauser dropped 22 points off the Celtics bench.

For the unestablished, on-the-rise players whose NBA claim to fame is simply being on a roster, there’s tremendous value in preseason games.

For many, it is a shot at being more than just a warm pulse at the end of the bench.

And that, more than the final score, determines success this time of year.

Despite losing 125-119 in overtime to the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics wing Sam Hauser was unquestionably the biggest winner for the Green team.

He scored 22 points off the bench which included a critical 3-point play with 1:11 to play in regulation, which gave Boston a short-lived fourth quarter lead.

It was the second time in as many preseason games that Hauser’s shooting prowess was on display.

But what we saw on Wednesday was Hauser showing the ability to contribute in more ways than the long ball.

The previously mentioned 3-point play came about on a Hauser drive to the basket while drawing a foul and finishing off the play with a basket.

A seldom-used shooter last season, Hauser is doing his part to establish himself as a regular rotation player.

More games like the ones we have seen in the preseason thus far, will only make his chances at being part of their top eight or nine players, a dream come true.

Here are the Stars, Studs and Uh-uhs of Boston’s preseason game against the Toronto Raptors.

STARS

⭐⭐⭐Jaylen Brown: Points came early and often for Brown, doing what most of the top players in the NBA do during the preseason - get some early buckets and call it a day. He would finish with 23 points on 9-for-14 shooting while playing just 27 minutes.

⭐⭐Jayson Tatum: It was yet another slow start by Jayson Tatum. But to his credit, he continues to figure out ways to contribute when his shot isn’t falling. Against the Raptors, he made a major impact on the boards while his scoring eventually got on track. He finished with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds along with four assists.

STUDS

💪💪💪Sam Hauser: This was yet another game in which Sam Hauser made a strong case for being a rotation regular. He would finish the game with 20 points which included making his first three, 3-point attempts.

💪🏾 💪🏾 Pascal Siakam: The former All-Star was active on the glass and was a solid scorer, finishing with 13 points and six rebounds in just 23 minutes of court time.

💪🏽Malcolm Brogdon: His playmaking continues to stand out for Boston, as he delivered yet another solid game distributing the ball for the Celtics. Brogdon scored four points to go with nine assists and two rebounds.

UH-UHS

😯Fred VanVleet: This is the kind of night you’re gonna have when you are as good a scorer as Fred VanVleet and you’re flanked most of the game by Marcus Smart, the NBA’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year. VanVleet had 7 points on 3-for-12 shooting from the field.