Boston Celtics Defeat Toronto Raptors 111-101

The Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors 111-101. Jaylen Brown had 24 points, Derrick White had 22, and Jayson Tatum had 19 with 11 assists. RJ Barrett and Scottie Barnes combined for 43 points in the loss. Both teams were shorthanded in this matchup. The Celtics were without Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet. Jakob Poeltl, PJ Tucker, and Brandon Ingram were out for the Raptors. The Boston Celtics improved to 42-16, winning the season series 3-1. Toronto dropped to 18-40.

The Boston Celtics Lead Early

The last time the Boston Celtics traveled to Canada, the Raptors defeated them. However, the Celtics won the previous two meetings. Both teams were without their starting centers and played small-ball lineups. This made for a fast-paced game with little defense. White was hot, and once Boston’s defense tightened up, they built a double-digit lead. Payton Pritchard and Barnes traded buckets for the remainder of a sloppy first quarter. Both teams were going fast but turned the ball over as a result. The Boston Celtics led 35-24. Pritchard had 8 points and Barnes had 6.

Barnes was fired up, starting the second quarter with seven straight points. He fueled the Raptors to a 10-0 run that made it a one-point game. Their defense was more physical, forcing the Boston Celtics to settle for tough shots. Toronto briefly took the lead before Tatum and Brown strung a few baskets together. Tatum, Brown, and White pulled the Celtics’ offense back, and they went up double figures again. Brown was attacking the rim, White was knocking down threes, and Tatum did a bit of everything. They helped repel a Raptors run, and at halftime, the Boston Celtics led 66-54.

The Boston Celtics led at halftime because of their stars. Brown led with 13 points. Tatum had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 9 assists. White shot 4-of-6 from three for 12 points. It was a sloppy half where they turned the ball over and had multiple defensive lapses, but they had the lead. Still, it was far from a perfect game, and the Raptors were fighting hard. Barnes led them with 15 points, followed by Barrett with 13. With how odd this game was shaping up, from the lack of centers to the mistakes on both sides, it was still anyone’s for the taking.

The Celtics Win

The Raptors started the third quarter on a 7-0 run. Barrett was aggressive in getting to the basket taking advantage of the Celtics’ lack of big men. A few Brown and Tatum buckets helped the Boston Celtics maintain their lead. They also made a few plays on defense, forcing turnovers and getting a big block from White, but was a low-scoring quarter from Boston so their lead did not grow. They went deep into their bench and went cold from three, so their lead hovered around ten points. Pritchard drilled a step-back three, giving the Boston Celtics an 89-66 lead through three quarters.

Brown started the fourth quarter with four straight points, but the Raptors answered. It was clear they were not going down, fighting for rebounds and loose balls. They soon brought the game within single digits on an 11-2 run. The Boston Celtics were sloppy, dribbling off their legs almost every possession. White knocked down a couple of shots, maintaining the Celtics lead with five minutes left, but it was nowhere near safe. Toronto continued attacking the paint, while Boston forced ill-advised threes. A Neemias Queta alley-oop gave the Celtics a nine-point lead with three minutes remaining.

Tatum gave the Boston Celtics a spark, making a tough mid-range jumper and getting a steal on the other end. Then, Pritchard grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a White three-pointer. This stretch put them up by 12 with a minute left. The Raptors fought until the end, but the Boston Celtics held on for a 111-101 win.

Final Thoughts

The Boston Celtics improved to 42-16 with the win. Brown led with 24 points. White wasn’t far behind with 22 points and six three-pointers. He also had two blocks and three steals. Tatum finished with 19 points and 11 assists. It was not pretty, but the Celtics won their sixth consecutive game. The Raptors fell to 18-40. Barrett had 22 points and Barnes had 21. Boston plays the Pistons next, while the Raptors face the Pacers.