Cavs leave starters behind, thumped by Celtics in preseason lesson

The Cavaliers didn’t bring their starters to Boston, and it showed.

With nearly every regular resting, Cleveland’s young group ran into a Celtics team that looked ready for opening night. The result was a 138-107 loss that won’t mean much when the real games begin, but still gave the coaching staff plenty to evaluate.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson used this one to stretch the bench and see what he has in the back half of the roster. Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, De’Andre Hunter, Lonzo Ball, and Sam Merrill all stayed behind in Cleveland. Merrill continues to nurse a minor groin injury, while the rest were simply given the night off. Darius Garland and Max Strus remain sidelined from offseason surgeries.

So this was about development, not dominance.

Boston’s starters jumped out early and built a double-digit lead in the opening quarter, never looking back. The Celtics led by as many as 37, while the Cavs leaned on energy, effort and the chance to build some chemistry among the fresher faces.

Jaylon Tyson led the way with 16 points, continuing to make the most of his preseason minutes. Rookie Tyrese Proctor added 12 and showed flashes of confidence with the ball. Larry Nance Jr. chipped in 11 in 23 minutes, as one of the few veterans to see the floor.

Atkinson made it clear earlier in camp that he wanted at least one game to give the starters a full night off — and this, folks, was it. The plan now shifts toward keeping or getting everyone healthy and on the same page before the real work begins.

Cleveland will close out preseason play Tuesday at home against Detroit. Then it’s on to New York for the season opener, where the roster and rotation will undoubtedly look more familiar.