Celtics head into 2025 with a big win over the Raptors 125-71
The Celtics went into their matchup against the Raptors in unfamiliar territory, going 1-3 in their last 4 games. In its first real slump of the season, Boston lost to an injured Magic team, a 76ers squad that has been up and down all year, and a young Pacers team they split with over the weekend. The Celtics are still heavy title favorites, but even the defending champs were letting the droves of the middle of the NBA season wear on them a little. Boston is 5-5 in its last 10 games, but still sits at second place in the Eastern Conference.
The Celtics were looking to break out of their slump on New Years Eve and did exactly that against a struggling Raptors team. One major turning point for the Celtics in this game was their increased intensity and intent on defense and offense throughout the game. Compared to their performance in the past few games, this was a big improvement. Joe Mazzulla talked about the team doing the right things and not getting results at times, but this was a prime example of the Celtics being rewarded for being in the right places and executing properly.
Another strong emphasis from Mazzulla this season has been the Celtics defense holding teams to 25-point quarters. Boston, whose defense was an integral part of it’s championship success last season, had been struggling to do this over the last two weeks. However against the Raptors Boston didn’t allow a single 25-point quarter holding Toronto to only 12 points in the first quarter and an NBA low of 71 for the entire game.
The Celtics bread and butter though, and what separates them in most games, is the team’s 3-point shooting. That was the case again on Tuesday. Boston went 22/43 from beyond the arc, led again by 6th man of the year Payton Pritchard who went 5/8. Boston got contributions from just about everyone with 7 double digit scorers, even with Al Horford held scoreless at 0-7.
It was one of Boston’s most dominant performances of the year leading by 50+ at times. Even Jordan Walsh played some significant minutes and continues to look like he could be a solid NBA player.
The Celtics had a pretty comfortable hold on the 2nd seed in the East a few weeks ago, but now that lead sits at just 1 game. The new look New York Knicks have found their stride going 9-1 over their last 10, keeping pace with the still red hot 29-4 Cleveland Cavaliers who also went 9-1 over their last 10.
Boston faces a tough test on Thursday night when Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves come to town. Mazzulla and the Celtics will be keen on holding the Wolves to those coveted 25-point quarters as Anthony Edwards shoots more 3’s than anyone else in the league. If Boston can pull out a convincing win against one of the top teams in the Western Conference, fans will soon forget the rough stretch over their last 10 games.
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