Boston Celtics capitalized on Derrick White’s tiebreaking 3-pointer to secure a 108-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors in an NBA In-Season Tournament game. Despite blowing a 16-point halftime lead, the Celtics managed to hold on for the win.
Jaylen Brown scored 23 points, while Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who now hold a six-game winning streak against Toronto. Other notable contributions include Jayson Tatum’s 17 points and Jrue Holiday’s 14, along with White’s 13 points.
Brown and Porzingis returned to the Celtics’ lineup after missing their previous game due to illness and a knee injury, respectively.
Sam Hauser and Al Horford also delivered commendable performances by adding 11 points each. With this win, the Celtics improved to 2-0 in tournament play after defeating Brooklyn the previous Friday.
Despite Toronto’s efforts, they fell short as Scottie Barnes missed a crucial 3-pointer that would have tied the game with just 11 seconds remaining. Pascal Siakam and Dennis Schroder both scored 23 points in a losing effort, marking Toronto’s debut in the tournament. They were the last NBA team to participate in the competition. Gary Trent Jr. and Barnes also put up 14 points each, while Jakob Poeltl contributed 11 points to Toronto’s effort.
Toronto faced additional challenges as O.G. Anunoby missed his third consecutive game due to a finger injury, and Otto Porter Jr. was unavailable due to personal reasons. Trent, who missed the previous three games, managed to start after overcoming plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
The game saw a turnaround for Boston as they started with a poor shooting performance but bounced back in the second quarter, outscoring Toronto 39-17 to establish a comfortable lead at halftime. However, Toronto came back strong in the third quarter, tying the game at 73-all before the Celtics edged ahead to secure the victory.
Notable names spotted at the game include Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin and musician Fat Joe.
Looking ahead, the Celtics will visit the Grizzlies on Sunday, while the Raptors are set to host Detroit on the same day.
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Olivia Carter revs up excitement in the world of NASCAR. As a dedicated motorsports enthusiast, she covers race results, driver profiles, and the latest developments in the NASCAR world, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
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