Luka Garza powers Celtics past Cavaliers 124-113 in Boston’s first road preseason look

Boston opened this preseason stretch with a road game that doubled as a first look at its most recent additions. The Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-113 on Friday night, turning a game that carried an evaluation purpose into a clear demonstration of depth and pace. With many regular rotation players watching from the bench, the spotlight landed on new faces and fringe starters trying to establish roles before the season’s real preparation ramps up.

Luka Garza led Boston’s scoring in Cleveland, finishing with 22 points and 10 rebounds. His stat line fit the preseason pattern in which big minutes are often rewarded for both finishing and physical rebounding, and Garza’s production helped the Celtics sustain momentum after Cleveland answered early scoring runs. The 22-point effort also set a tone for Boston’s half-court possessions, where the Celtics could turn rebounds and interior touches into points.

Jordan Walsh and Baylor Scheierman each scored 16 points for Boston. Together with Garza, their scoring output suggested Boston’s coaching staff could use them as consistent options against Cleveland’s second and third-line looks. In preseason, those numbers matter less for final standings and more for what they report about shot-making, attention to detail, and the ability to stay productive without a fixed nightly role that carries over from the regular season.

Devin Carter scored 17 points in the win, adding another layer to Boston’s scoring distribution. For teams, a spread of contributors in a single game is frequently used as a gauge for continuity, especially when multiple players are being asked to fit into lineups that will not be the same as opening night. Carter’s output gave Boston additional scoring that could offset moments when any one player’s rhythm slowed.

The backdrop for both franchises was a packed preseason week, with Boston finally taking the court in Cleveland after earlier action across the league. While preseason results do not predict anything directly about the final record, the manner of production does. Boston’s 124-point total, powered by Garza’s rebounding and multiple players finding the basket, offered a practical answer to the question of whether the Celtics can generate offense from more than one outlet.

For Cleveland, the takeaway is more about how quickly players can adapt to defensive assignments and offensive spacing against a Boston group that featured multiple new contributors. The Cavaliers were still in evaluation mode as well, and the close 11-point margin suggests there was enough competition to make the film worthwhile for both sides. Boston will likely carry forward the positives, then watch for consistency when starters rotate in and when the Celtics face more structured game plans from their opponent.