Boston Celtics Hang On To Defeat Toronto Raptors

It wouldn’t be a Sunday afternoon in the NBA without a little heart-stopping drama, right? For a while there, it looked like the Boston Celtics were going to cruise to an easy victory at Scotiabank Arena. They were up by 23 points, clicking on all cylinders, and seemingly ready to pack up early for the flight home. But in true NBA fashion, no lead is ever truly safe, especially when you take your foot off the gas.

While the Celtics eventually secured a 121-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors, the journey to the final buzzer was a lot bumpier than Joe Mazzulla would have liked. This win, their fifth in a row, was huge for the standings, vaulting Boston to third in the Eastern Conference at 15-9. But getting there required weathering a serious storm.

A Tale Of Two Halves For the Celtics

If you turned off the TV at halftime, you probably thought the Celtics had this one in the bag. They put up 77 points in the first half, shredding a Raptors defense that usually holds its own. Everything was working. The ball movement was crisp, the defense was swarming (eight different players recorded a steal or block in the first half alone), and they were dominating the fast-break game 14-2.

Then came the third quarter, and frankly, things got ugly. The Celtics got comfortable, and the Raptors got desperate. Brandon Ingram heated up, and Toronto’s backup point guard, Jamal Shead, turned into a blur in transition. Suddenly, that comfortable 23-point cushion evaporated. The Raptors went on a tear, eventually taking a 98-97 lead early in the fourth quarter. It was the classic case of a team relaxing when shots stopped falling, leaving their transition defense completely exposed.

Derrick White and Jaylen Brown Save the Day

When things started going sideways, the Celtics needed their stars to step up, and they didn’t disappoint. Jaylen Brown was a force all afternoon, finishing with a game-high 30 points and eight rebounds. He was the steady hand Boston needed when the momentum shifted.

But let’s talk about Derrick White. Remember that shooting slump he was in last month? Yeah, that’s officially over. White dropped 27 points and was absolutely clutch down the stretch. He and Payton Pritchard (15 points) hit back-to-back threes in the fourth quarter that finally broke Toronto’s spirit. White also came up huge on the defensive end with three blocks, proving once again why he’s one of the most valuable two-way players in the league.

What This Means Moving Forward

This wasn’t a perfect win, but good teams find a way to win ugly, and that’s exactly what the Celtics did. By holding on, they leapfrogged the Raptors in the standings and kept their hot streak alive. They’ve now won 10 of their last 12 games, shaking off that slow start to the season.

The schedule makers have also given them a little gift. Because they missed the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the Celtics have a surprisingly light week ahead. They visit the struggling Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday and then get a few days off before hosting Detroit. It’s the perfect time for Mazzulla to address those transition defense lapses before the schedule ramps back up.