​The Boston Celtics endured a rough start to their 2026 Las Vegas Summer League debut against the Toronto Raptors, struggling to find the bottom of the net for most of the night. But when the moment called for a decisive three-pointer, rookie Chris Cenac Jr. delivered in the clutch on Friday night. With less than 30 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Boston trailed 77-74 and faced what had been a frustrating offensive contest. The Celtics missed two shots on their final possession, yet secured the rebound after each miss. The ball eventually found Cenac Jr. in the corner, and he knocked down a three to tie the game with just 0.7 seconds left on the clock.
A moment later, Cenac Jr. was celebrated by Houston’s Chris Cenac Jr.—a small nod to his newfound status as a Celtic after being selected 27th overall in the 2026 NBA Draft. The tie sent the game to overtime, a brief two-minute session in which Summer League play is decided. In that short window, Boston outscored Toronto 6-3, and a transition dunk by Celtics guard John Tonje appeared to seal the win. Yet Toronto refused to go quietly, launching four potential game-tying attempts from deep in the final 13 seconds of overtime. All four shots missed, allowing Boston to escape with the victory.
Cenac Jr. finished with a strong all-around performance off the bench, tallying 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks. His night highlighted what the Celtics hoped to see from newer talent as the season’s prep work began. The rest of Boston’s lineup leaned on familiar faces from last season: guard Hugo Gonzalez, center Amari Williams, and Tonje. Gonzalez filled the stat sheet with 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists over a game-high 37 minutes, providing steady production at both ends of the floor. Williams delivered a game-high 23 points on an efficient .78 shooting clip and also paced Boston with 13 rebounds, demonstrating his value on the interior. Tonje contributed 20 points in 26 minutes and emerged as a primary source of the team’s perimeter scoring, knocking down five triples on nine attempts. Outside of those three, the Celtics managed only four made threes on 25 attempts, reflecting the shooting struggles that plagued the night.
Despite shooting only 30 percent from the field, Boston managed to secure a 1-0 start to Summer League play. The Celtics’ focus now shifts to Sunday afternoon’s matchup with the Atlanta Hawks, where they will look to tighten their execution and improve their efficiency against a stronger opponent. The early impression from Las Vegas is that if Cenac Jr. can sustain his late-game composure and teammates like Gonzalez, Williams, and Tonje can provide consistent support, Boston could build a more cohesive rhythm as the event progresses. As always in summer basketball, the opportunity to develop chemistry and test combinations remains the priority, but the relief of salvaging a win in a tight late-game moment should be a meaningful confidence booster for the Celtics as they move forward.