Luka Garza came off the bench and quickly impressed in his Boston Celtics exhibition debut. The four-year veteran registered a double-double in the visitors' 121-103 victory vs. the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
He finished with 10 points, including six at the free-throw line, 10 rebounds, and one block in 16 minutes. He and Derrick White were the only players on either side to produce a double-double.
Garza shone brightest through his abilities as a screener. His timing earned rave reviews from NBC Sports Boston's analyst Brian Scalabrine throughout the contest. Whether it was knowing exactly how long to hold an on-ball screen for, breaking free to the basket on a ghost screen, or getting someone off the ball open on a pin down, the six-foot-10 center showcased his versatility and basketball intellect as he spent possessions setting various screens, each with a noticeable impact.
After the win, it was a subject he spoke with NBC Sports Boston's Abby Chin about.
Luka Garza to @tvabby on the timing of his screens, which drew praise from Scal throughout the game:
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) October 9, 2025
“I think that’s one of my biggest skills, and one thing I can bring to this team is help get guys open.
“We have so many elite players, especially off ball screens…You’ve got… pic.twitter.com/hTM5T8fHr0
"I think that's one of my biggest skills, and one thing I can bring to this team is help get guys open," said Garza. "We have so many elite players, especially off [of] ball screens when you talk about Payton [Pritchard], Anfernee [Simons], JB [Jaylen Brown], obviously, Derrick White as well. You've got to get them open.
"So, it's all about time. It's all about hitting them at the right time, getting a little bit of separation to get downhill, because when they do, our offense just goes and we can get so many different types of shots."
Luka Garza on what carried over from training camp
The former Minnesota Timberwolves center grabbed six rebounds at the defensive end. That tied John Konchar for the most in the matchup. The Celtics surrendered 13 offensive rebounds, including five in the opening frame.
They're a smaller team than a year ago and no longer have Jayson Tatum for the time being. From his second season on, he has led Boston in defensive rebounds per game every year. Like his ability to accentuate his teammates with his screen setting, Garza's ability to contribute on the defensive glass is crucial.
After Wednesday's victory in Memphis, he also discussed another pivotal part to the Celtics' success this season during his post-game interview with Abby Chin.
"Playing with pace, but playing with a high level of awareness as well, and not just playing fast, but playing smart and playing hard," said Garza. "So, I think we did a really good job of that through the whole game."
Seeing that translate from a demanding training camp wasn't a surprise. It's a well-documented point of emphasis for Boston; it suits the team's personnel better this season. Still, it was encouraging to see that with Simons and Pritchard on the bench. It highlights how an up-tempo operation plays to the Celtics' strengths. It's an approach that, at least on some nights, can help them overcome when there are struggles defensively or on the boards.