The Boston Celtics secured their fifth victory on Wednesday, overcoming a 22-point deficit to defeat the Toronto Raptors 98-93 at Scotiabank Arena.
Jayson Tatum anchored the Boston offense with 24 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 25.2 seconds remaining. The Celtics, who improved to 10-2 on the season, struggled early and trailed 59-37 midway through the second quarter, according to reporting from EFE.
Boston utilized a 16-0 run before halftime to narrow the gap to 61-54. Derrick White contributed 19 points and seven assists, while Neemias Queta recorded a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. The Celtics’ defensive intensity held Toronto to just 32 points in the second half.
Toronto led for much of the contest, driven by an early shooting display that saw the team hit ten three-pointers in the first quarter. Despite the strong start, the Raptors’ offense stalled in the final period, scoring only 13 points on 5-of-21 shooting.
Ja’Kobe Walter paced the Raptors with 17 points, and rookie Allen Graves added a career-high 13 points. The loss dropped Toronto to a 5-6 record, the first time this season the team has fallen below .500.
Boston played without Paul George, who missed the game due to an illness one day after scoring 36 points against Philadelphia. Spanish forward Hugo González played eight minutes for the Celtics; he sustained a blow to his right knee but remained in the game after receiving medical attention, EFE noted.
The Raptors continued to manage several roster absences. Kawhi Leonard missed his ninth straight game with a left knee injury, though head coach Darko Rajakovic stated before the game that Leonard is “progressing well” with individual conditioning. Scottie Barnes remained sidelined for his third game with a left groin injury, while Immanuel Quickley returned to the lineup after missing two games with a hamstring issue.
Toronto held a 93-90 lead with 90 seconds left following two baskets by RJ Barrett. Boston closed the game on an 8-0 run, capped by successful free throws from Tatum and Queta to seal the win in front of a crowd of 19,800.
The Celtics maintain a 4-0 record against Atlantic Division opponents.
Related reading
