Celtics end pre-season on an ugly note, fall to Cavs again, 113-102

Kyrie Irving once again sat out tonight's contest against his former team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Gordon Hayward was a scratch as well.

Marcus Smart played all of three minutes, long enough to come to the defense of Aron Baynes after JR Smith went full JR Smith. For his actions, he was ejected.

But the Boston Celtics can't say they were short-handed, as the now Lebron-less Cavs were also without the services of Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, and a few others. One player who did suit up for the Cavs, former Celtics draft pick Ante Zizic, led the team with 20 points and 5 rebounds.
(Zizic was included in the trade that brought Kyrie to Boston.)  

Leading the way for the Celtics was Terry Rozier and Marcus Morris, both of which dropped 17 points a piece.

All in all, it was another ugly game and ugly loss for the Celtics. Especially considering their recent lackluster play and following the subtle tongue-lashing Head Coach Brad Stevens directed toward the team. One would have assumed that, considering this was their last pre-season game, the Celtics would've brought their "A" game -- at least in terms of effort.

The Celtics started the game going 2/13 from the field; ball movement was there, good shots were as well, but the Cs reaped virtually no reward for their unselfish play. As the Celtics missed, the Cavs didn't. And so the disgusting déjà vu began -- and continued throughout much of the game.

The only good thing about this pre-season is that it's over. One can only hope the proverbial switch will be flipped ten days from now when the Celtics take on the Philadelphia 76ers in Boston on opening night.

Full highlights below.
 

Follow Edward Babaian on Twitter: @bojixbabaian