With out Jayson Tatum after which Marcus Good and Robert Williams within the second half, the Celtics gutted out a win north of their border, beating the Raptors 106-104 for his or her ninth straight win.
Toronto’s 20-27 report is marked by poor capturing; they’re twenty eighth within the league at three-point capturing share (and had been with out Fred Van Vleet) and subsequently, solely common 23.1 assists per recreation. Nevertheless, the Raptors are massive throughout the board with Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Scottie Barnes filling out their wing rotation. The Raptors outscored the Celtics within the paint 54-to-36 and blocked 10 photographs.
The Raptors’ weaknesses, nonetheless, are the Celtics’ strengths. Boston hit 16-of-35 from behind the arc. Payton Pritchard performed your complete fourth quarter and hit all 4 of his three-pointers.
With Boston down three key rotation gamers, a number of function gamers from the second unit stepped up. Grant Williams scored 18 factors within the first half together with 3-of-5 from behind the arc and completed with a career-high 25 factors with 5 rebounds. Malcolm Brogdon continued his streak of robust play with 23 factors on an environment friendly 8-of-16 capturing. Jaylen Brown lead the staff in scoring with 27 factors, eight rebounds, seven assists, and three steals.
The ultimate seconds, not in contrast to Thursday evening’s traditional in opposition to the Warriors, had been outlined by Al Horford. With the Celtics nursing a two-point lead, the 36-year-old defended two drives by Gary Trent Jr. and Siakam, the latter resulting in a bounce ball. After successful the toss up, Horford locked up Barnes for one more bounce which he received vs. a participant fifteen years his junior. Within the closing seconds, it was Horford once more sealing the win with a steal at midcourt.
What is perhaps the larger story transferring ahead are the losses of Marcus Good and Robert Williams. After preventing for a defensive rebound, Jaylen Brown fell backward into Time Lord’s knee. Williams stayed within the recreation and performed 15+ minutes within the first half, however was dominated out at halftime.
The extra urgent concern is Good. Within the closing minutes of the second quarter, Good was curling round an Al Horford display screen, slipped, and turned his proper ankle. He crumpled to the ground and stayed down for a number of minutes earlier than two Celtics personnel helped him to the locker room, placing little weight on his proper leg.
The Celtics now journey south to Florida to complete off season sequence in opposition to the Orlando Magic and Miami Warmth in a back-to-back Monday and Tuesday evening earlier than returning house for a five-game homestand.
