Jayson Tatum, Celtics maintain mastery of Raptors

Field Level Media|published: Mon 15th January, 22:11 2024

Jan 15, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Boston Celtics guard Jrue Holiday (4) drives around Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) during the first half at Scotiabank Arena. credits: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Jayson Tatum had 19 points, 14 rebounds and six assists as the visiting Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors 105-96 Monday night.

Jrue Holiday added 22 points and seven assists for the Celtics, who have defeated the Raptors in eight consecutive meetings. Derrick White contributed 22 points, Kristaps Porzingis scored 15 points, and Al Horford put up 10 points and 11 rebounds as Boston won for the third time in four games overall.

RJ Barrett scored 24 points and pulled down nine rebounds for the Raptors, who were returning from a 2-4 road trip.

Toronto's Immanuel Quickley added 21 points. Pascal Siakam scored 17 points, Scottie Barnes had 10 points and 13 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder produced 13 points.

Boston shot 40.2 percent from the field, including 16 of 39 (41 percent) from 3-point range.

Toronto hit 40 percent from the floor but a miserable 4 of 32 (12.5 percent) from long distance.

Boston took a nine-point lead into the fourth quarter. The margin reached 14 with 8:19 to play when Sam Hauser made a 3-pointer.

Toronto trimmed the gap to six with 6:15 to go, but Holiday answered with two consecutive 3-pointers.

Quickley hit an 11-footer to cut the deficit to six with 3:09 left, and Barnes made a layup to get Toronto within 100-96 with 2:00 to go. White answered with a 3-pointer.

Boston led 29-25 after the first quarter.

Toronto scored the first five points of the second quarter to lead by one. Boston used an 8-0 run to take a six-point lead with 8:21 to play in the half. The lead reached seven on Oshae Brissett's 3-pointer with 2:55 left, and the Celtics went up by 11 on a Holiday layup with 1:06 to go.

Toronto scored the final five points of the half, cutting Boston's lead to 61-55.

The Raptors opened the third quarter with a 16-3 surge to lead by seven with 7:27 remaining. Tatum made a dunk and sank a free throw to complete a three-point play, tying the game at 73 with 4:24 left in the third.

Payton Pritchard hit a 3-pointer to complete the third-quarter scoring and bump the Celtics' lead to 84-75.

Boston's Jaylen Brown (knee) did not play.

Toronto's Jakob Poeltl (ankle) remained out.

—Field Level Media

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