Jayson Tatum scored 21 factors and sat your entire second half, because the Boston Celtics picked up a convincing 121-102 win over the Toronto Raptors. Sam Hauser scored a profession excessive 26 factors on 9-of-15 capturing and Payton Pritchard completed with 19 factors and 5 assists in his return to motion. The Celtics scored 68 first-half factors and led by as many as 36. They enhance to 56-25, and with a win this Sunday, the workforce has the prospect to gather its finest document because the 2008-2009 season.
Toronto had one in every of its worst video games of the season regardless of Boston taking part in with out Jaylen Brown, Marcus Sensible, and Malcolm Brogdon. They theoretically had an opportunity to earn the eighth seed, however had a horrible offensive exhibiting, capturing 30 % within the first half. Treasured Achiuwa completed with 16 factors and 10 rebounds whereas Pascal Siakam had 19 factors and 4 steals. With the win, the Celtics go 4-0 within the season collection.
This recreation additionally featured the debut of Tatum’s signature shoe:
Picture by Omar Rawlings/Getty Photographs
Regardless of turning the ball over eight instances, the Celtics dominated the first quarter, holding the Raptors to 1-of-9 capturing to open the sport and main 19-4 by the 6:00 mark. Tatum scored 15, Hauser drained two threes, Derrick White had 4 assists, whereas Robert Williams had two blocks, one steal, and this dandy backdoor cross to a chopping Hauser:
The Celtics led 34-16 after one, capturing 60 % whereas holding Toronto to 27 %. The bench continued the domination into the 2nd quarter and Boston appeared just like the unstoppable offense that began the season 21-5. Payton Pritchard was swishing all the pieces, Blake Griffin gained each unfastened ball, and Mike Muscala hit his photographs and even grabbed just a few offensive boards. Timelord had this block and fastbreak layup to place the Celtics up 25:
Boston assisted on 11 of 12 second-quarter discipline targets. Tatum’s and-1 on the 3:34 mark gave them a 62-29 lead, then a Horford three put them up 36. Toronto lastly made a dent within the deficit over the ultimate two minutes, occurring a 9-0 run, and the Celtics led 68-40 at half.
They shot 24-of-40 from the sector and 9-of-25 from three. For these of you doing the mathematics at dwelling, you’ll discover they didn’t miss a two-point discipline objective in a single full half of NBA basketball. Tatum scored 21, Timelord and Horford every had three blocks, whereas Hauser and Pritchard every scored 11. The Celtics assisted on 20 of their 24 discipline targets, and the one field rating blemish was their 12 turnovers. For Toronto, Jacob Poeltl (1-of-2) was the one man to shoot over 40 % from the sector, and Fred VanVleet led them with 9 factors and 6 assists.
Muscala began instead of Tatum to open the second half. VanVleet’s three on the 7:04 mark minimize the Celtics result in 18. Pascal Siakam scored 13 factors within the first eight minutes on an equal serving to of drives and mid vary jumpers. Boston’s offense was stagnant, however it will definitely rounded into type, and White’s elbow pull-up put them up 83-61 with 4:20 remaining. A Hauser three the following possession put them again up 25, and earlier than the top of the third quarter, he would get his first dunk of his profession, which shocked the TD Backyard crowd:
Are you able to say Slam Hauser? Coach Mazzulla didn’t make a sub till the 1:30 mark, and the Celtics led 95-73 going into the 4th quarter. The ultimate interval was a mere formality. Hauser would find yourself getting his second and third profession dunks on back-to-back possessions, and the Celtic bench went loopy. Luke Kornet additionally had a loud dunk off a JD Davidson cross. The Raptors didn’t clear its bench till the very finish, however they stop earlier than the ultimate quarter started. Boston would win 121-102.
The Celtics will play their ultimate common season recreation this Sunday at 1:00 towards the Atlanta Hawks.