LAS VEGAS — It will’ve been troublesome to emerge from an evening the place the Lakers and Bronny James performed, and Jaylen Brown spoke about his Olympic group snub, that Neemias Queta would emerge as one of many bigger headlines. He did so — scoring seven factors in below three minutes to open the prime time Summer time League matchup between Boston and LA at Thomas and Mack Middle.
The Celtics shot forward by double-digits early and largely cruised to a 88-74 win over Dalton Knecht, James, Maxwell Lewis and the younger Lakers. Queta scored 22 factors with eight rebounds, three blocks and shot 7-for-10 to enhance upon some inconsistent ending across the basket throughout Boston’s loss to Miami on Saturday. He mentioned the choice to return to the Celtics on a three-year deal a straightforward one.
“Credit score to him, he wished to play Summer time League,” DJ MacLeay mentioned. “The massive problem for him this summer season has been a few of our defensive stuff … we’re altering rather a lot on the defensive finish. Quite a lot of that’s centered round serving to him get built-in with what we do on the NBA stage. He’s doing job.”
Jordan Walsh and Queta each critiqued their first sport. Walsh called his performance against the Heat terrible, partially, as a result of he targeted on getting his personal shot, grew annoyed by misses and didn’t affect the sport in numerous methods. He drew Knecht minutes into the sport and held his floor, stripping the Lakers rookie earlier than attempting to run with JD Davison for an alley-oop that James broke up. Walsh blocked Knecht later within the quarter and grabbed a second steal guarding Lewis, surpassing his inventory complete from all of Saturday.
Queta’s struggles didn’t present as visibly within the stat sheet, however he spent a few of Saturday’s loss lacking tip-ins or level clean appears to be like whereas nonetheless managing a 20-point efficiency. On Monday, he drained three free throws, caught an alley-oop from Baylor Scheierman on the transfer, then landed one other from Walsh after making a pair of stops inside on Colin Castleton that wowed a crowd that spilled into the higher deck, a rarity. A Davison three arrange an early 10-point Celtics lead that Jahmi’us Ramsey maintained with a floater round 4 early turnovers. Davison and Ramsey mixed for 21 factors and eight assists within the again court docket on 7-for-15 taking pictures. Walsh completed 4-for-12 and 0-for-5 from three.
LA’s second unit labored again inside two factors behind 5 straight Knecht factors earlier than tying the sport early i the second quarter. Killian Tillie shot aggressively off Boston’s bench, however began 1-for-6 whereas Moses Brown’s dimension challenged the Celtics’ entrance court docket. Lewis reduce Boston’s result in three halfway by the second, and after leaving a possession the place they secured 4 offensive rebounds empty-handed, the Celtics maintained their lead behind a Davison floater and Ramsey second probability three arrange by Scheierman. The rookie first spherical decide struggled, ending 1-for-7 individually, however he attacked the glass all through, racing head over heels into the stands later within the second half after a unfastened ball.
Davison hit a nook three with three seconds left within the first half to ascertain a 50-34 lead into the third. Drew Peterson solely scored three of these 50, making a spot begin with Jaden Springer out for unspecified causes. He may very well be out for the rest of the schedule, which DJ MacLeay alluded to after the sport, whereas sources mentioned there’s nothing bodily to be involved about. Peterson hit his second three late within the third quarter, pouring in two extra within the fourth to complete 4-for-8 from deep. He later famous he gained 13 kilos since becoming a member of the Celtics and signed one other two-way contract earlier this summer season.
Anton Watson reached seven factors within the fourth for the second consecutive sport with a mid-ranger after LA pulled inside 10. James answered with a baseline jumper, his solely scoring play within the sport, that acquired a roaring response from the gang that had waited all night time. He shot 1-for-5 and missed all three makes an attempt from deep, falling to 0-for-15 total. Ron Harper Jr., who signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Celtics this week, went 2-for-6 with a 3, 5 factors and two assists. Three minutes later, Queta scored 5 factors in lower than 30 seconds to create the ultimate separation from the Lakers and his personal competitors.
The Celtics tackle the Hornets subsequent on Wednesday at 5:30 EST.
