BOSTON— Anfernee Simons has started every game he appeared in for the past three seasons in Portland but that’s a trend that’s coming to an end. An offseason trade to the Celtics has set the stage for to a transition to a reserve role in Boston, starting in Sunday’s preseason matchup against the Cavaliers . Simons got the start in his Celtics debut Friday night against the Raptors, but with Derrick White back available on Sunday, Simons came off the bench for the first time since the 2021-22 season in his new home.

The early returns for the transition were quite promising in the preseason tuneup, as Simons scored a team-high 21 points off the bench in his 24 minutes in the Celtics’ 138-107 blowout win over the undermanned Cavaliers. Simons went 6-of-9 from 3-point range in the victo

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