The Celtics were without some key players for their second preseason game, against defending Euroleague champions Real Madrid. Small forward Perry Jones returned to the United States for a family funeral, Evan Turner sat out with a right knee strain and power forward Amir Johnson was sidelined by an illness that also affected fellow big men David Lee and Jared Sullinger. Madrid was also without two injured stars, former NBA players Rudy Fernández and Jeffery Taylor.
Ultimately Lee was in the starting lineup despite missing the pregame shootaround, along with Marcus Smart, Avery Bradley, Jae Crowder and Tyler Zeller.