Boston closed Wednesday's 114-93 win over Charlotte with Luka Garza and Hugo Gonzalez on the floor, not Payton Pritchard or Neemias Queta, the two reserves who had done the most to build the lead. Boston travels to Philadelphia Friday for a rematch of its 144-106 win from October 10.
Mazzulla closed with Garza and Gonzalez over Pritchard and Queta.
The final five minutes of Wednesday's win went to Derrick White, Hugo Gonzalez, Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Luka Garza. Pritchard, fresh off Monday's two-year extension, finished with 11 assists in 29 minutes but watched the ending from the bench. Queta posted the best plus-minus of the night, plus 16 in 24 minutes, and sat for the same four minutes. Preseason finishes carry no playoff weight, but Mazzulla is still testing combinations five days before the Detroit opener.
Robinson's shortest night produced the cleanest box score on the floor.
Mitchell Robinson played 17 minutes and missed nothing: five makes on five attempts, seven rebounds, three blocks. He is competing with Queta and Garza for center minutes in a frontcourt that already looks crowded before any game counts in the standings.
Philadelphia offers a measuring stick Boston already cleared once.
The Celtics beat the 76ers 144-106 on October 10; Friday brings a rematch with Philadelphia's own list crowded, Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown and Anfernee Simons are all day-to-day. Boston has three days' rest to Philadelphia's two, with neither team on a back-to-back.
The real question is who closes once games start counting.
Pritchard's new deal and Queta's efficient night haven't bought either one finishing minutes; Garza and Gonzalez have them instead. Whether that holds past the preseason is worth tracking once Detroit opens the schedule on October 20.
Who closed Boston's win over the Hornets?
Derrick White, Hugo Gonzalez, Jayson Tatum, Paul George and Luka Garza played the final five minutes of the 114-93 win.
When do the Celtics play the 76ers again?
Boston travels to Philadelphia on October 16, a rematch of its 144-106 win from October 10.
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