Raptors 103, Celtics 116

Game Highlights

Photo of the Game

Kevin Garnett tries to drive baseline past his defender, Andrea Bargnani.
Steve Babineau/NBAE/Getty

By Marc D'Amico
Celtics.com

Key Moment

Is there a better key moment than a 13-0 run over a 6:52 span of the third quarter? I think not.

The Boston Celtics trailed by one point at halftime, but their time chasing the Raptors was sparse after the third quarter began. After Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 57, Toronto made two straight shots to take a four-point lead at the 10:38 mark. They didn't know it then, but the second of those shots, made by Hedo Turkoglu, was the last time they'd see their score change until there was only 3:46 reamaining in the game, a stretch of 6:52 without a point.

If you were waiting to see that "Celtics defense" emerge again, tonight was the night. During this stretch, the C's forced the Raptors into eight consecutive missed field goals, a missed free throw, four personal fouls and four turnovers. By the time it was all said and done, Boston held a 70-61 lead that continued to grow over the final minutes of the game.

Key Box Score Line

It wasn't a triple-double, but it was certainly an outstanding performance from Rajon Rondo tonight. Rondo dished out 11 dimes while wreaking havoc at the defensive end of the floor and the Celtics outscored Toronto by 23 points while he was on the floor. He didn't lead the team in scoring, but his impact cannot go unnoticed.

Box Score Nuggets

• Kevin Garnett (6-of-6) and Kendrick Perkins (8-of-8) combined to make all 14 of their field goal attempts.
• Six Celtics scored in double figures, and all of them dropped in at least 12 points.
• Boston racked up 33 assists compared to Toronto's 15.
• The C's scored an unheard of 68 points in the paint.
• Both teams scored exactly 22 fast break points.
• Twelve Raptors saw the court tonight, but only one of them (Hedo Turkogly, +5) finished with a positive +/- raiting.
• Toronto was forced into 25 turnovers.
• The game-high in scoring was 20 points, and three separate players tied with that amount (Ray Allen, Chrish Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu).
• Both teams made seven 3-pointers.

Quote of the Night

Doc Rivers responding to if he felt like he was watching an NCAA game with no defense in the first half of tonight's game: "It's funny... at halftime I said, 'Hey, the first team that plays defense wins, guys!'"