Raptors bounce again to beat Celtics, 119-118

The Celtics last preseason sport noticed them journey north to Toronto for the second sport of a home-and-home collection vs. the Raptors. Boston followers had been handled to Al Horford’s return to motion and as he has finished 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 sizzling. Scottie Barnes made 4 triples, Grady Dick was good 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.

Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

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 trying in jeopardy early as Toronto went up massive to start out with a 46-27 lead after 1 / 4.

Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

With Sam Hauser and Jrue Vacation in road garments for this contest, Mazzulla appeared 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 start out the second quarter as Boston went on a lightning fast 10-point run to get properly and really again into the competition.

Halfway by 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 bought very sloppy as began to dictate the tempo defensively. The Raptors sizzling taking pictures began to dry up and so they didn’t hit a single three-pointer in your entire second quarter ending 0-8 from deep.

Getting the ball into the inside was important for Boston as they scratched into the lead late within the quarter behind a robust publish 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 below coach Darko Rajakovic. For Boston, Derrick White was regular all through the third and began to impression the sport on each ends with 3 blocks and 4 three-pointers by three. Tatum went to work on each the within and out of doors 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 evening, with Pritchard added his personal 15 factors on 5-8 from three to finish the quarter down 86-97.

Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

To my shock, Mazzulla stored each Tatum and White within the sport to start out 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 start out 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 last 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 dwelling to boost Banner 18 and hand out championship rings subsequent Tuesday at TD Backyard.