Raptors bounce back to beat Celtics, 119-118

The Celtics closing preseason sport noticed them journey north to Toronto for the second sport of a home-and-home sequence vs. the Raptors. Boston followers had been handled to Al Horford’s return to motion and as he has accomplished all preseason, head coach Joe Mazzulla combined issues up as soon as extra, beginning Payton Pritchard and Derrick White within the backcourt alongside Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Horford.

Toronto began the sport out tremendous scorching. Scottie Barnes made 4 triples, Grady Dick was excellent with 3 from 3, while Davion Mitchell, Jamal Shead and Agbaji all chipped in a single every. Dick and Barnes had been strong all quarter, pushing the tempo as Boston was caught on it’s heels within the first quarter.

For Boston, Jaylen Brown’s mid-range sport was going early for the C’s as he hit on 4 of seven, good for 11 first quarter factors. Jayson Tatum, who didn’t play a lot within the quarter (6 minutes), got here again into the sport with 3 minutes remaining and immediately had a spotlight reel play, dropping a hammer on former teammate, Bruno Fernando. The Celtics nine-game profitable streak was wanting in jeopardy early as Toronto went up massive to begin with a 46-27 lead after 1 / 4.

With Sam Hauser and Jrue Vacation in avenue garments for this contest, Mazzulla regarded to Jordan Walsh as soon as extra, persevering with his good kind in preseason. He was joined by Jayson Tatum who began to orchestrate issues completely alongside a double massive lineup of Tillman and Kornet. Payton Pritchard rounded out within the second unit. Payton Pritchard hit on 3 fast three-pointers to begin the second quarter as Boston went on a lightning fast 10-point run to get nicely and really again into the competition.

Halfway via the second, Toronto had solely added 6 factors to the scoreboard, in comparison with Boston’s 19-point early quarter begin. Turnovers began to creep into the sport for Toronto as issues acquired very sloppy as began to dictate the tempo defensively. The Raptors scorching taking pictures began to dry up they usually didn’t hit a single three-pointer in the whole second quarter ending 0-8 from deep.

Getting the ball into the inside was crucial for Boston as they scratched into the lead late within the quarter behind a robust submit and-1 play from Brown. Boston fully turned across the 3-point taking pictures and ended the quarter on a Tatum triple and a halftime lead of 67 to 66 in entrance of a sparse Scotiabank Area.

Jacob Poeltl strong begin to the third put stress again on Boston as he had a tip dunk, jumper and layup to tempo the Raptors and push out a 6-point result in begin the third. Dick continued to impress for Toronto as he pushes for a beginning place beneath coach Darko Rajakovic. For Boston, Derrick White was regular all through the third and began to affect the sport on each ends with 3 blocks and 4 three-pointers via three. Tatum went to work on each the within and outdoors ending the quarter with 21 factors complete. Though his stroke appears to be improved, Jayson completed out the quarter with 4-12 from 3-point land, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and three steals. Brown added 19 factors, with 7-9 free throws on the night time, with Pritchard added his personal 15 factors on 5-8 from three to finish the quarter down 86-97.

To my shock, Mazzulla stored each Tatum and White within the sport to begin the 4th quarter because the Celtics ramp up preparations for a house opener in opposition to New York in every week’s time. Boston rallied with urgency to begin the quarter and behind back-to-back triples from Derrick White and Jayson Tatum because the workforce raced again to inside 5. Nonetheless with the rating at 103-98, Mazzulla cleared the bench and introduced within the deeper rotation gamers because the beginning lineup sans Payton Pritchard entered the competition.

The ultimate 5 minutes was all G-Leaguers and two-way gamers and boy, was it entertaining. A JD Davison pull up triple off the dribble registered a four-point play and pulled the Celtics shut. A preventing Celtics screamed again into the sport as Walsh ploughed previous two Raptors to tie the sport at 115 apiece with 48 seconds remaining. Younger Raptors guard DJ Carton added a pair of free throws after being fouled on a damaged play dunk try. JD Davison’s huge 5-minute stretch continued only a play later including a step again three for the lead with a 118-117 rating and 25 seconds to go. DJ Carton then iced a pair of free throws to realize again the lead. Boston had a closing likelihood to win however Jordan Walsh elevated late to complete however was met on the summit and denied with the Raptors prevailing 119-118.

Boston subsequent host New York at residence to lift Banner 18 and hand out championship rings subsequent Tuesday at TD Backyard.