Over the first 29 days of November, 442 NBA players logged more minutes than Xavier Tillman.

Expecting a larger role this season after a 2024-25 campaign hindered by injuries, Tillman instead spent most of the month glued to the Celtics’ bench. He dressed but did not play nine times in an 11-game span, seeing a total of 13 minutes from Nov. 1 through Nov. 29.

Tillman couldn’t crack the rotation when starting center Neemias Queta sprained his ankle in a win over the Magic, or when Queta sat out for the first time this season three nights later. But when both Queta and guard Derrick White were held out Sunday’s road matchup in Cleveland, Tillman finally got his chance.

The 26-year-old big man vaulted from the end of the bench to the starting lineup and delivered one of the best performanc

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