Xavier Tillman Sr. stunned the Raptors with the NBA preseason game winner

To say that the NBA preseason is pointless would be disingenuous. But the results rarely matter, because the process of getting into the game and bonding with your teammates is what should take precedence for NBA teams. Still, a win or two always feels good, and that was certainly the case with Boston Celtics during the preseason on Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors — with third baseman Xavier Tillman Sr. being the hero for the home team.

With 3.3 seconds left in the game, Tillman took the ball at his left elbow and was wide open. Instead of settling for a tough long two, he drove the ball toward the paint and stood right in front of Jamison Bittle’s contest, retreating to game-winning float which he calmly pulled through the net.

It’s not entirely clear what role Tillman will play for the Celtics in the regular season, and it’s also unclear how much this game-winner would affect his spot in the rotation.

At the very least, the Celtics have an opening in the frontcourt, and Tillman definitely has a chance to take on a bigger role the way he did when he was a more consistent player in the rotation for the Memphis Grizzlies.

With Al Horford, Kristaps Porzingis and Luke Cornett no longer with the team, the Celtics have plenty of holes to fill in the frontcourt. Early indications coming out of the preseason show that the likes of Chris Boucher and Neemias Cueta will be the favourite to start for Boston at center. But Tillman’s defensive versatility as well as timely shooting could help him establish himself as one of the Celtics’ first big men off the bench.

Tillman finished with seven points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes of action on Wednesday night.

The Celtics want to fix the rotation on opening night

The Celtics’ only starters for this upcoming campaign are Jailen Brown, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. Cueta and Sam Hauser look set to join that trio in the starting five, but head coach Joe Mazzulla is expected to maintain roster flexibility around these three anchors.

Joining that five in the rotation to start the year will be Anfernee Simmons, Chris Boucher and Josh Minot — Minot being a revelation in the preseason. Perhaps Luca Garza, Tillman or Baylor Scheierman could also earn minutes during the season.