Raptors Crush Celtics, 111-91, In Potential Playoff Preview
The Toronto Raptors, who have best home record in the NBA as of Tuesday night, at 21-4, continue to win as they crush the Boston Celtics, 111-91, in a potential…
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The Toronto Raptors, who have best home record in the NBA as of Tuesday night, at 21-4, continue to win as they crush the Boston Celtics, 111-91, in a potential playoff preview.
So over the next six days, the Celtics will play four games against five of the top teams in the East. Tonight [Tuesday night] is at the Raptors (36-16), who sit at second in the Atlantic and the East. Then on Thursday it’s at the Washington Wizards (31-22), who’s sitting at the top of the Southeast and are hanging out in fourth place in the East.
Then over the weekend they play a pair of home games, with the Indiana Pacers (30-25) up first on Friday and the Cleveland Cavaliers (30-21) on Sunday. The Pacers are currently sitting in third place in the Central and sixth in the East and the Cavaliers are maintaining the third spot in the East and the top spot in Central.
Kyrie Irving got to make his first appearance against the Raptors as a Celtic, since missing their first matchup back in November. The C’s took home a 96-95 win after DeMar DeRozan missed what would’ve been the game winner at the buzzer.
The Raptors jumped out on an 8-to-2 run, but the Celtics grinded their way as they trailed 22-18 at the end of the first.
During the first there was a scare involving rookie Jaylen Brown. He was seen hobbling after coming down awkwardly, but he eventually ran it off and was good to continue.
It continued to be a game of runs for the Raptors as they went on a 13-0 run in the second to jump out to a 47-29 lead.
During the second, the Raptors shot 13-for-17 from the field, as they took a 58-37 lead into halftime.
In the first half, the Raptors shot a striking 55 percent from the field, compared to the Celtics’ 40 percent. And they crushed it on the boards, out-rebounding the C’s 23-to-12.
The slop-fest continued for the Celtics as they started the third quarter with a forgettable 1-for-8 from the field. Irving finally ended the draught with a floater in the lane.
And almost two minutes into the third, Aron Baynes headed to the locker room after taking a hard shot from DeRozan. He went off to the locker room with the training staff for evaluation. He later passed the concussion protocol and returned to the game.
The Raptors took a 83-60 lead heading into the fourth quarter and never looked back as they finished off the Celtics convincingly, 111-91.
Terry Rozier III led all Celtics with 18 points (4-5 3PT), five rebounds and four assists. And Kyrie Irving wasn’t far behind with 17 points, on 6-for-12 shooting.
Al Horford went 1-for-5 from the field for two points, to go with six rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Kyle Lowry went off for 23 points (6-11 3PT), eight rebounds and four assists. As a team the Raptors shot an impressive 50 percent from the field, while the C’s shot a measly 40 percent. But the Raptors only ended up out-rebounding the Celtics, 39-38, after the C’s didn’t have an offensive rebound in the third quarter.
UP NEXT: The Celtics (39-16) will be heading to the Nation's Capital Thursday night to take on the Washing Wizards (31-22). Catch the call of the game with Sean Grande and Cedric Maxwell live on 98.5 The Sports Hub. Pre-game coverage begins at 7:30 p.m., with tip-off set for 8:00 p.m.
-- By John 'The Dude' Hardiman, 985TheSportsHub.com
