As expected, Kristaps Porzingis did not play in either of the Celtics’ two preseason games in Abu Dhabi as he continues his rehab from offseason leg surgery.
Neither did his top backup.
Veteran Al Horford, who’s expected to be Boston’s primary starting center until Porzingis is healthy enough to return, sat out both Middle East exhibitions for rest purposes, according to head coach Joe Mazzulla.
Mazzulla offered an update on the 38-year-old big man after the Celtics’ first practice back in Boston, saying Horford will play in at least one of the team’s three remaining preseason games.
“Just ramping him up,” he said. “We’re still talking about that. He’ll definitely play in one of them, maybe two, just kind of ramping him up and making sure he stays sharp. That’s all.”
Luke Kornet, Xavier Tillman and Neemias Queta were the Celtics’ top options at center with Horford sitting, with Kornet starting both games and turning in a pair of solid performances. Tillman was the first big off the bench in the opening game last Friday. On Sunday, it was Queta. The two also played minutes together in both contests, with the 6-foot-8 Tillman shifting into the four spot.
“They did a much better job understanding our offensive spacing,” Mazzulla said of the Tillman-Queta pairing. “They were much better organized. It’s hard when you play different lineups that you may not get to in practice, so I thought their reads in our offensive spacing were really good, and I think their defensive versatility is really good. So that lineup showed some good stuff, and we may have to go to that for whatever reason
The Celtics will manage Horford’s minutes as he enters his 18th NBA season — and sit him on the second night of most back-to-backs — making Kornet, Tillman and Queta important contributors off the bench. All three should have roles as the team rides out Porzingis’ absence, which is expected to stretch at least into December.
Mazzulla didn’t shoot down the idea of starting Kornet and bringing Horford off the bench in some regular-season games.
“Just doing whatever makes sense for the team,” the coach said. “Obviously, [Horford has] been great for us both coming off the bench and starting, and so we just have to make that decision, whatever we think is best for the team at the time that we’ll do. And it’s a credit to him that he’s open-minded enough to know that. He’ll just do whatever’s best for the team.”
The only other Boston player who did not play in Abu Dhabi was undrafted rookie forward Tristan Enaruna, who was waived after the team returned home.
The Celtics will host the 76ers and Raptors this Saturday and Sunday at TD Garden before closing out their preseason slate next Tuesday in Toronto.