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Key Moment
Give the Raptors credit for their 107-97 win over the Celtics Friday night in Toronto. They made shots – a lot of them – when it mattered most.
Toronto finished the contest by making seven of its final eight shots, including a stretch of six straight, as it pulled ahead for the victory. Four different Raptors made a shot during the stretch, including four makes from All-Star DeMar DeRozan.
The stretch of hot shooting began shortly after Boston took an 88-84 lead with 5:28 remaining in the game. DeRozan quickly answered back with a driving layup 19 seconds later, and the Raptors were off and running.
DeRozan put home another driving layup, which was followed by a jumper from newcomer Serge Ibaka and a 3-pointer from DeMarre Carroll. DeRozan then canned a jumper of his own before Cory Joseph did the same, and DeRozan closed out the run with another jumper with exactly one minute left on the clock to push Toronto ahead 99-94. The Raptors iced the game with eight free throws during the final minute.
Toronto’s only miss of the stretch was a 3-pointer from Carroll.
Key Player
Missing Kyle Lowry wasn’t much of a problem for the Raptors Friday night. That’s because their other All-Star, DeMar DeRozan, was unquestionably dominant.
DeRozan scored a season-high 43 points Friday night, besting his previous season high of 41 points, which was also tallied against the Celtics. Twelve of DeRozan’s points were scored during the fourth quarter, as he pushed Toronto to a win.
Celtics fans are typically used to seeing large-scale, efficient scoring nights out of Isaiah Thomas. However, on this night, it was DeRozan who put forth such an effort. The All-Star scored his 43 points on only 28 shots. He converted 15 of those attempts and all 12 of his game-high 12 free throw attempts.
In addition to his scoring prowess, DeRozan also pitched in five boards and five assists during the contest to round out a strong, all-around effort.
Box Score Nuggets
- No member of the Celtics scored more than 20 points.
- DeMar DeRozan's 43 points were more than double the highest total scored by any Celtics player (20, Isaiah Thomas).
- Boston scored at least 26 points during each of the first two quarters, but no more than 22 during each of the final two quarters.
- Cory Joseph (six) and DeRozan (five) were the only Raptors who logged more than one assist in the game.
- Neither team committed more than 12 turnovers.
- Jae Crowder and Marcus Smart each scored 19 points for the C's.
- During his first game with Toronto, Serge Ibaka totaled 15 points and seven rebounds.
- Also in his first game with the Raptors, P.J. Tucker grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.
- Each team led by at least 10 points during the game.
- Toronto outscored Boston 52-34 in the paint and 15-5 in second-chance points.
- Amir Johnson was one of seven players in the game to block a shot but the only player in the game to block more than one. He blocked two shots.
Quote of the Night
Jae Crowder on Friday night's defeat