BOSTON — Jayson Tatum showcased his scoring prowess by netting 18 of his 23 points during a commanding third quarter, leading the Boston Celtics to a resounding 125-71 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. This win marked the eleventh consecutive loss for Toronto.
In the crucial third quarter, Boston outpaced Toronto with a remarkable 45-18 scoring burst, capitalizing on a flurry of 3-point attempts that saw the team make 10 of 12 from beyond the arc. Tatum was instrumental, sinking four 3-pointers, while Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser contributed by each hitting two shots from long range. The Celtics displayed exceptional shooting accuracy, finishing the quarter at an impressive 74%.
Holiday made his return to the lineup following a three-game absence due to a right shoulder injury and ended with 14 points. Other notable contributions came from Payton Pritchard, who scored 19 points, Derrick White with 16, and Hauser, who finished with 12 points. Jaylen Brown rounded off the effort with 12 points along with nine rebounds.
For the Raptors, Scottie Barnes was the top performer with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Jakob Poeltl also contributed defensively, pulling down 13 rebounds, but the team struggled overall, concluding December with a discouraging 2-11 record.
Notable moments from the game include Toronto’s inability to recover from a tough start where they committed 12 turnovers in the first half, coupled with a dismal shooting performance of only 29.5% (13 for 44) in the initial two quarters. The situation deteriorated in the third quarter as the Celtics effectively doubled the Raptors’ scoring.
By the end of the third, Boston held a commanding lead of 90-53 and opted to rest its starters for the final quarter.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when the Celtics, after a slow start that saw them miss their first nine shots and trail 6-2, made a comeback with consecutive 3-pointers from White and Holiday. This shift sparked an 8-0 run, allowing Boston to take control that they would not relinquish.
Defensively, the Celtics capitalized by forcing 21 turnovers while only committing 13 themselves, illustrating their dominance on both ends of the court.
Looking ahead, the Raptors will host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, while the Celtics are set to begin 2025 with a match against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday.
