The Boston Celtics picked up their recent dominance of the Toronto Raptors right where they left off, scoring a convincing 112-94 win in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday.
Marcus Smart led the way offensively during the Celtics’ early barrage. The C’s jumped to a 39-23 lead after one quarter, thanks in large part to Smart scoring 10 of his 21 points, in addition to nine for Jaylen Brown and eight for Kemba Walker. Boston shot 9-for-14 from the field as a team in the first quarter.
Shooting efficiency on the Celtics’ side, and a lack of it on the Raptors’, became a dominant theme in the game. The Celtics shot 47 percent as a team, and 43.6 percent from three-point range. Compare that to Toronto’s 36.9 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from downtown. The Raptors’ Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet, their two leading shot-takers, went a combined 8-for-32 (25 percent) from the floor for 24 combined points.
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics dunks against the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs on August 30, 2020. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Tatum finished with 21 points, tying Smart for the team-high. He scored eight points in the second quarter alone to keep the Celtics’ lead in double-digits.
Celtics starting center Daniel Theis was a major factor on the glass and the main reason Boston out-rebounded the Raptors 50-40 in the game. Theis pulled down 15 total rebounds, while Toronto centers Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka had 15 rebounds combined.
Up Next: Game 2 between the Celtics and Raptors takes place Tuesday. We’re still waiting on confirmation for a start time. You can be sure to hear the call of the game right here on 98.5 The Sports Hub.
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