It was a battle of pride and bragging rights. Boston Celtics center Neemias Queta squared off against NBA teammate Hugo Gonzalez on Friday. The matchup took place on the home turf of the latter's side at Pabellón Príncipe Felipe in Zaragoza, Spain.
In a game that came down to the wire, Queta helped lead Portugal to a 95-89 victory. He finished with 16 points, nine rebounds -- including five on offense, and two steals in 24:37. He registered a +11 plus-minus rating in his team's second-round win in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers.
NEEMIAS QUETA COOKING THE DEFENDER LIKE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN 🍗#FIBAWC | #StepItUp pic.twitter.com/kzA6g2i4Qw
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 28, 2026
As for Gonzalez, the burgeoning wing ended the night with three points on 1/4 shooting. All of his field-goal attempts came from behind the arc. He also grabbed four rebounds in his 23:27 of floor time.
At 5-2, Spain still sits atop the Group I table. This was a crucial triumph for Portugal, though. At 4-3, it keeps their World Cup qualifying hopes alive. Their 11 points tie them with Montenegro and Georgia for the third-most in their pool.
Neemias Queta continues to shine on a FIBA stage
Last summer, Boston's blossoming big man used EuroBasket as the perfect springboard to the NBA season. Facing the likes of Nikola Jokic, Alperen Sengun, and Kristaps Porzingis helped prepare him for his chance to join the Celtics' first unit.
The seven-foot center parlayed the momentum from his international experience into a breakout year. He was a top-10 player at his position in the regular season, in this author's opinion. He averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He registered the fourth-highest net rating in the league [13.2] among those who made at least 60 appearances while logging 25 minutes or more, per NBA Stats. He was fifth in win shares per 48 minutes. That's a remarkable leap from being fourth on the depth chart in the previous campaign.
That earned Queta a four-year, $56 million contract extension. It's a dream-fulfilling moment for the 27-year-old from Lisbon. Along with a new deal, he now has a new teammate in former New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson. That pairing gives Boston a potent 1-2 punch at center. That tandem has the potential to become the most formidable at that position in the NBA. The initial plan is for the former to remain the starter.
Queta's performance against Spain was the latest example of him capitalizing on the opportunities FIBA is providing him. It's the ideal way for him to ready himself to maintain his place in the Celtics' first unit and build on last season's leap.
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