Grant today, 20 minutes - most of anyone off the bench. 2 points on 1-3 shooting. 2 rebounds, an assist, and a block. 2 turnovers. But he got the minutes today because he was a +23, and he was on for the whole Celtics comeback.
He came in with 3:15 left in the third quarter and the Celtics down 76-62. He checked out with 3:23 to go in the game and the Celtics up 96-85, a 25-point swing.
For most of that stretch, Romeo Langford was in, too. Langford came in with 4:23 to go in the third and the Celtics down 11 (70-61), gave them third first least of the night with a pair of free throws early in the 4th, and left with 6:11 to go in the game and the Celtics up 90-82, a 17-point swing.
In the third, they had Grant, Romeo, Brown, Thompson, and and Walker on when they cut the lead from 14 to 5. With about 10 minutes left and the Celtics up 1, Romeo and Grant stayed out and Tatum, Smart, and Time Lord came in, and which point Tatum went off, scoring to straight Celtic points.
Right or wrong, Brad clearly values Grant and Romeo on defense, and it worked out today.