Watch: Celtics center screeches like a hawk during preseason game vs. Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets won't play the Atlanta Hawks this season until Dec. 8 .

At one point during their preseason opener against the Celtics on Friday in Abu Dhabi, however, Nuggets defenders heard a loud screech from Boston center Neemias Queta that resembled a hawk.

The incident came in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' 107-103 victory with the score tied at 86.

Queta's viral moment came as he perched under the basket, seemingly open for a go-ahead bucket, but he was missed by small forward Jordan Walsh.

The Portuguese big man had a solid 2024 preseason debut as the only player in the contest to make all of his field-goal attempts with multiple attempts. Queta finished with six points on 3-of-3 shooting in 13 minutes off the bench, while adding three rebounds and one block as well.

Playing in a frontcourt that included Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet, Queta averaged just 11.9 minutes per game across his 28 contests off the bench last season. The 25-year-old showed promise though, recording 5.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per tilt before appearing in just three playoff games.

While Porzingis, Horford and Kornet are all back for another shot at a championship, the Latvian center is recovering from a leg injury that is expected to keep him sidelined into the winter.

Queta's two other teammates are likely to fill in most of Porzingis' minutes. Depending on how he performs during the rest of the preseason, however, the former Sacramento King may also gain more playing time and get further opportunities to continue his screeching.