Raptors, 114-112 (final)
Offense came easy in this one. A win was a little harder to find.
The Celtics nearly withstood a flawless shooting performance from the Raptors, but Toronto’s hot shooting was ultimately too much as the Raptors earned a 114-112 win tonight at the Garden.
With the win, Toronto avoided a season-sweep and also handed Boston its first loss in the Atlantic Division.
If tonight was the first time all season you tuned into a Celtics game, you would have had a hard time telling which team had won the previous three meetings between the squads this year. Both teams played hard. They executed. And they gave the Garden fans plenty of reasons to stand and cheer.
At times the Raptors were careless with the basketball (19 turnovers), but they more than made up for their sloppy play with a ridiculous shooting touch from beyond the arc. Toronto made 15-of-21 three-pointers, seemingly hitting a dagger at every big moment of the game.
The Celtics, meanwhile, spread their offensive efficiency to all parts of the court. They shot 49 percent for the game. Five players (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Tony Allen, Rajon Rondo, and Paul Pierce) scored in double-figures.
The Celtics had a seven-point lead after the third quarter, and Paul Pierce pushed the margin back to that number (102-95) with a three-pointer with 5:06 remaining.
The Raptors cut the lead to 106-104 on a three-pointer by Anthony Parker with 2:20 remaining, but Rondo answered with a layup on Boston’s next possession.
Then came another Toronto three, this one by Carlos Delfino, to cut the lead to one with 1:23 remaining. A Kevin Garnett dunk with 1:08 left put the lead back at three. Chris Bosh’s dunk with 56.9 seconds left made the score 110-109, Celtics.
Kendrick Perkins fouled Calderon with 31.3 seconds left, and Calderon drained both free-throws to put the Raptors up one.
Boston got a good look on its next possession, but Eddie House missed a wide-open three from the corner. Luckily for the Celtics, Garnett got the rebound and found Ray Allen, who drained a 14-foot jumper with 14.9 seconds left.
Toronto wasted no time getting the lead back, as Calderon drove the lane, took a bump, and made a lay-up with 10.5 seconds left. He converted on the free throw to put the Raptors up, 114-112.
The Celtics got a good look on their final possession, but House misfired on a three-pointer, and Ray Allen’s last-second fadeway was also off the mark.
The Raptors also had five players (Andrea Bargnani, Bosh, Calderon, Delfino, and Parker) in double-figures. Parker and Bosh had 23 points apiece. Bargnani finished with 20 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists. Calderon had 24 points and 13 assists.
The Celtics (33-7) are back in action Friday night when the Minnesota Timberwolves, with old friends Al Jefferson and Ryan Gomes, come to town.
We’ll have plenty of postgame reaction from both locker rooms in a bit.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com