Celtics avenge earlier loss, keep Raptors on the skids
Precious Achiuwa #5 of the Toronto Raptors takes a shot against Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the first quarter at TD Garden on November 10, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP
Jayson Tatum finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists as the Boston Celtics avenged an early-season blowout loss to the visiting Toronto Raptors with a 104-88 win on Wednesday night.
Tatum was one of six scorers in double figures for Boston. Dennis Schroder added 20 points, Robert Williams added 16 and 13 rebounds — including a career-high eight offensive boards — and Josh Richardson scored 15 off the bench.
Article continues after this advertisementToronto handed Boston its worst home loss since 2007 in a 115-83 thrashing in the Celtics’ home opener on Oct. 22. The win on Wednesday marked the Celtics’ first home victory in four tries this season.
Boston has now won three of its last four games, with the lone setback coming on Luka Doncic’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer in a 107-104 defeat at Dallas on Saturday.
Scottie Barnes had 21 points and seven rebounds to lead the Raptors. Fred VanVleet had 16 points and six assists and OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. scored 14 apiece for Toronto.
Article continues after this advertisementRob Williams shares what it means to get the first home win this season on a special night in TD Garden. pic.twitter.com/5FBXSNsAvY
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 11, 2021
Raptors All-Star Pascal Siakam totaled eight points and seven rebounds in his second game back after missing the team’s first 10 games recovering from offseason shoulder surgery.
Toronto suffered its third straight defeat coming off its season-best five-game winning streak.
Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown missed his second straight game while sidelined for one to two weeks with a Grade 1 right hamstring strain. Brown said before the game that the injury was “getting better” and that he was “without pain.”
Meanwhile, Toronto center Khem Birch (knee) is sidelined for the team’s back-to-back in Boston and Philadelphia. Raptors forward Yuta Watanabe (calf) also missed the game.
Boston led 62-46 at halftime after leading by as many as 18 late in the opening half.
Anunoby’s driving layup pulled Toronto within 87-79 with under seven minutes to play. The Celtics responded with an 8-0 run to put the game out of reach. The Raptors never held a lead in the game.
Toronto visits the 76ers on Thursday night. Boston hosts defending champion Milwaukee on Friday night.
