Overview

• Boston cruised past the short-handed Grizzlies 121-103 in the preseason opener, with Memphis missing Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey.
• Jaylen Brown scored 21 points in 20 minutes before sitting the second half, and Derrick White added 16 points with 10 assists in an expanded playmaking role.
• Joe Mazzulla unveiled a surprise starting five of Brown, White, Sam Hauser, Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman, while Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons and Neemias Queta did not play.
• Rookie Hugo Gonzalez impressed off the bench with eight points, three rebounds and three blocks, including a steal-and-dunk sequence in his lively debut.
• The Celtics pressed, pushed pace and generated 13 steals and 10 blocks but showed some defensive rebounding concerns; Jordan Walsh exited with left adductor tightness, and the team heads to Toronto next.