The Celtics opened their preseason slate on Sunday with an eye-opening 134-93 win over the Hornets.
Here are the takeaways.
1. After fans and media called for improvements to his handle all summer, Jaylen Brown was fantastic in his 2022-23 debut — scoring a game-high 24 points, which included several strong drives to the rim and 3-for-5 shooting from behind the arc. Maybe his best play, however, showcased his handle and vision.
Brown finished with four turnovers and four fouls in just 23 minutes, but with the first of many “It’s early, but …” caveats, he looked ready to make a push for his second All-Star team (and maybe more) on Sunday.