Portuguese international center Nehemias Queta added six more points on Friday in the Boston Celtics’ 120-118 home win over the Toronto Raptors, who remain the top team in the North American Basketball League (NBA).
The Portuguese international thus continued coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotation, adding six points, five rebounds and one assist in 14.27 minutes in the 11th game of the season.
Nehemias was the third bench player with the most minutes behind Payton Pritchard (25.08) and Osha Brissett (15.19), now totaling 168.43 minutes.
In a game that did not feature Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis, who played a crucial role in the Celtics’ triumph on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons but was absent due to injury, Boston was helped by the performance of Jaylen Brown, who finished the game with a goal. 31 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, followed by Derrick White (21 points) and Luke Kornet (20 points).
The Celtics remain the only undefeated team at home, adding their 16th home win and leading the Eastern Conference with 25 wins and six losses.
Nehemias Queta now has 31 NBA games under his belt, 11 with the Boston Celtics, who signed him this season, and 20 with the Sacramento Kings, 15 in the 2021-22 season, his rookie season, and just five in the 2022 season. 23.
The 24-year-old Portuguese national team center forward was selected 39th overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2021 NBA Draft, becoming the first Portuguese player to participate in the tournament.
He was hired by the Boston Celtics last season on a two-way contract, meaning he would play not only for the team but also for the Maine Celtics, who compete in the G League.