The NBA returned to the Persian Gulf on Friday for the third consecutive year. The preseason schedule for the 2023-24 season opened with the Boston Celtics beating the Denver Nuggets 107-103 in a matchup of the two most recent championship clubs.

We did not see all that much of the Boston Celtics' starters in their two preseason wins over the Denver Nuggets in Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena last weekend. And for good reason, given that the Celtics were able to handle the Nugs despite those starters playing about half of what they tend to play on a normal night,

While preseason games might not count for very much, as far as setting tones go, the Boston Celtics and Jaylen Brown could not have done much better with their trip to Abu Dhabi. In the capital of the United Arab Emirates to play the Denver Nuggets in a pair of exhibition games,