Nets lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. looks set to take another step back onto the floor Wednesday in Miami.
Brian Lewis of The New York Post reported that Brown is expected to make his preseason debut against the Heat after missing time with a left ankle sprain he suffered in late September. The 20-year-old guard was able to complete full practices over the weekend and then took part in another 5-on-5 session on Monday, Lewis said. Brown, the No. 6 pick in June’s draft, will sit out Monday’s matchup with Washington, but the expectation is that he’ll be ready for Wednesday.
In Boston, the Celtics’ preseason rotation has already started to look a little more like the real thing.
Jay King of The Athletic noted that Joe Mazzulla mostly held back his regulars in Thursday’s preseason opener in Cleveland, but Saturday’s win over Philadelphia brought a much different look. Mazzulla started Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Mitchell Robinson, with Payton Pritchard, Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, Hugo Gonzalez and Baylor Scheierman handling the bulk of the reserve minutes.
That game also gave Tatum and George their first chance to share the floor as teammates, something both said had not happened yet after spending the offseason and training camp working against each other.
“ It was great because we’ve been teammates for a few months now, but it was like my first time sharing the floor with him and being on the same team,” Tatum said. “ Somebody that I’ve obviously admired for a very, very long time, and when I was in high school and college and competing against him and now to be on the same team and to see some of the special things that he brings to the team.”
George made his Celtics debut look easy, finishing with 13 points, five rebounds, five steals and four assists in 25 minutes. King wrote that his knack for generating turnovers adds a new wrinkle to Boston’s defense, and Mazzulla was quick to point out how that edge spreads.
“ He’s got great instincts,” Mazzulla said of George. “ Great instincts, great technique, great positioning. It’s something he takes pride in, but I do think it’s very contagious.”
Toronto is also watching a rookie carve out his place in camp.
Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca explored what kind of role first-rounder Allen Graves might have with the Raptors, noting that the versatile forward has been drawing attention in training camp thanks to an improved outside shot, even while dealing with a groin injury. Darko Rajakovic highlighted the things Graves already brings to the table.
“ He brings a lot of things with him: the intangibles, how hard he plays. He’s got great hands.
Creates a lot of steals. He’s very disciplined when it comes to rebounding the ball, and he’s a player who is pretty good catch-and-shoot three-point shooter,” said head coach Darko Rajakovic.
“ As a coach, you’re always looking for players where there are things that they catch on to and can build on, and he’s that type of player. So I believe that he’s going to be able to help us throughout the whole season, and I can see him being on the floor very soon.”
In Other News...
Joe Mazzulla May Be Building A More Reliable Celtics Offense
The Celtics opened the preseason with wins over Cleveland and Philadelphia, and the early signs have centered less on shot-making than on the way Joe Mazzulla wants this group to manufacture extra possessions. Even when the offense was uneven, Boston found ways to stay in control by leaning into activity on the glass and pressure that turned into easier chances the other way.
For a team that already knows how to score when its rhythm is right, the more interesting part is whether those habits can make the offense steadier when it is not. Mazzulla has emphasized offensive rebounding and forcing turnovers as part of the formula, and that approach could end up mattering as much as shot selection once the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Just Sent Celtics Fans A Clear Jayson Tatum Message
Paul George is already framing his Celtics partnership with Jayson Tatum in pretty clear terms as Boston gets a first look at the pairing under Joe Mazzulla. After their encouraging preseason debut together, Georges message was less about sorting out pecking order and more about fit, with the veteran wing signaling he understands where the offense is headed and what kind of burden Tatum is expected to carry moving forward.
Georges view of the arrangement also gives Celtics fans a glimpse of how Boston hopes to balance its top-end talent. Rather than trying to crowd Tatum out of the spotlight, George is embracing a supporting role that is built around easing pressure, helping defensively and doing the little things that keep possessions alive. The bigger question now is how naturally that plan translates once the games start to matter and the Celtics push deeper into next season. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Face A Costly Payton Pritchard Decision Fast
Payton Pritchards rise has put the Celtics in a familiar spot: a productive homegrown guard suddenly gets expensive, and the front office has to decide how much future flexibility it is willing to give up. He became eligible for an extension on Oct. 1, and the timing matters because Boston already knows what Pritchard has become after his Sixth Man of the Year season in 2024-25 and career-best numbers in 2025-26.
The pressure is on because the window to strike a deal closes before the 2026-27 season begins, and if the sides pass on that, the conversation shifts to a very different market next summer. Pritchard is already under contract through the 2027-28 season, but the longer Boston waits, the more leverage he could gain, leaving the Celtics to weigh short-term certainty against a pricier road ahead. [Read more 🡒]