BOSTON — The Boston Celtics had a triumphant pre-season debut on Monday night, beating the Charlotte Hornets, 94-82, at the TD Garden.
Jayson Tatum scored 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists while Kyrie Irving added 9 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. But it was rookie Daniel Theis who impressed Celtics coach Brad Stevens the most.
Theis recorded 12 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in under 14 minutes of play in the second half.
?He was quick to the rim and we needed that,? Stevens told ESPN.
The 25-year-old German, a 6-foot-9, 243-pounder who can play and four and five spots, signed with Boston last July 20. He is a product of the Basketball Lions Braunschweig basketball club which won the German League championship in 2015. In his European basketball career, he averaged 9.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.
