Romeo Langford, Al Horford draw starts vs. Raptors

After making his preseason debut in the fourth quarter of Monday’s win against the Magic, Romeo Langford leap frogs into the starting lineup tonight against the visiting Raptors. Langford replaces Jaylen Brown who is out for COVID health and safety protocols.

Per head coach Ime Udoka, Brown is expected to miss most of the remainder of the preseason schedule and training camp, but there’s hope he’ll be back for the opener on October 20th in Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. “With the timeframe in quarantine, hopefully everything goes well and he’s back for the regular season,” Udoka said. There’s a minimum ten-day quarantine for a positive COVID test and for now, Brown has been reportedly asymptomatic.

But as Udoka points out, “It’s an opportunity for other guys” with Langford drawing the start. The last time we saw Langford, he was hitting the game winner against the Magic.

We’ll also see the premiere of Boston’s much anticipated double-big lineup with Al Horford and Robert Williams starting together against the Raptors. Over the last two weeks, Udoka has teased the lineup as working in practices, but on Monday, Horford and Williams passed the baton at center with Williams starting and Horford spelling him until the fourth quarter when Enes Kanter finished the game. Toronto will counter and start relatively smaller with Fred VanVleet, Goran Dragic, OG Anunoby, Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achuiwa.

On the injury front, Dennis Schroder will miss tonight’s exhibition with a left knee contusion.