Celtics beat Grizzlies in preseason opener amid roster overhaul

The Boston Celtics opened their 2025-26 preseason on Wednesday night with a 121-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedEx Forum, a game that offered an early look at a roster remade over the summer and players stepping into expanded roles. Jaylen Brown led Boston with 21 points in 20 first-half minutes, while Derrick White finished with 16 points and 10 assists as the visitors built a 23-point lead by halftime and never trailed.

Coach Joe Mazzulla began the game with an unconventional starting lineup and cautioned reporters to "read zero into his lineup decisions," but the personnel choices reflected both experimentation and the team managing minutes. Brown, White and Sam Hauser started alongside Chris Boucher and Xavier Tillman in a double-big look. Several expected rotation players were held out: Anfernee Simons, Payton Pritchard and center Neemias Queta did not play as Boston manages a stretch of three games in five days.

Boston’s early surge featured an 18-0 run to open the second quarter that pushed the lead to 20 and set the tone for the rest of the night. The Celtics shot efficiently in bursts and emphasized a faster pace and aggressive defense, finishing the...