Celtics continue dominance over Raptors

By Holly MacKenzie, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday January 10, 2010 7:10PM

TORONTO (NBA.com exclusive) -- After collecting his first triple-double of the season, Rajon Rondo was happy with Boston's 114-107 road win over the Toronto Raptors, but ready to put it behind them.

"Onto the next one," He said, referring to the Celtics re-match with the Atlanta Hawks that is set for Monday evening.

He wasn't the only one ready to move on.

As the final ticks of the clock ran out with his team's victory safely secured, Celtics head coach Doc Rivers turned to press row and started asking for NFL scores.

Armed with the ability to file both losses and victories away the moment the final buzzer sounds is part of what has helped the Celtics to their 26-9 record to start the season.

Coming into Toronto on an early Sunday start, the Celtics rattled off 10 straight points to open the game, looking vastly different than the scattered team that had a sluggish start and finish against the Hawks on Friday night.

"I thought the beginning of the game was really important," Doc Rivers said. "They're used to playing the 1 o'clock start. We talked about it getting off to a great start and we did. That was big for us."

Despite a strong finish to the first quarter, the Raptors trailed by nine at the half where Rondo was already well onto his way to his triple-double. He recorded his ninth assist a few moments before the Raptors recorded their ninth as a team.

The start was representative of the game as a whole, showing the Raptors playing a game of catch up that they were unable to win.

The combination of Rondo's triple-double with Rasheed Wallace scoring 29 points and hitting five 3-pointers was too much for the Raptors to overcome as they had a six-game home winning streak snapped.

Rivers was thrilled with the play of Wallace.

"He was phenomenal," Rivers said. "The big shots he made, the post plays he made. I thought he was great defensively."

Asked about the 3-pointers he took and whether he gives Wallace the green light on them, Rivers didn't hesitate.

"Always," he said. "We have it on our board in our locker room, 'Your shot.' If it's your shot, take it. If it's not your shot, pass it."

While Wallace did plenty of shooting, Rondo provided the passing, finishing with a game-high 13 assists to go along with his 22 point and 10 rebounds.

"You never know with a team like that, everybody is a wild card," Chris Bosh said. "Rasheed, Ray, Kevin when he is playing, Paul. They all can score the basketball and have all been the man on their team in the past. It doesn't surprise me."

In addition to the play of Rondo and Wallace, all five Boston starters reached double-figures with Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins each adding 16 points apiece.

Bosh led the Raptors with 31 points and 13 rebounds, although he had just two points in the final quarter. Andrea Bargnani scored 23 points and Jarrett Jack added 14.

"He's their only real big," Wallace said of Bosh. "If you look at it night in and night out, Chris is guarding a majority of fives and he's really a four man. To me, he's their only big who's going to put up a fight down there."

In the Raptors locker room, Bosh praised Rondo, calling him a "crafty player".

"He really knows how to play, "Bosh said. "He found open spots and pockets where he could get some easy points. He's always aggressive by penetrating, finding a lot of open teammates. He played a really good game."

Going into the fourth quarter, Rondo needed only one more rebound to get the triple-double.

"I had like 12 guys over on the bench telling me, 'go get a rebound,'" Rondo said. "One time Paul and I were going at the same time, he took it, but I didn't really care. I just wanted to make sure we got the ball and didn't bobble it out of bounds."

With the Raptors closing in on them in the final minutes, Rondo was relieved they closed the game out.

"I'd hate to get a triple-double or have a great game and lose," Rondo said.

In the same breath, he finished his thought and then once again shifted his focus forward. "That means nothing. To get a win, that's okay, but tomorrow night we've got a different game."

Leaving Toronto with the victory, mentally they've already moved forward, where Hawks are waiting.

• Celtics: Daniels, Garnett
• Raptors: Banks, Evans

• Celtics: --
• Raptors: Triano

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 0

• Arena: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, OT
• Officials: #24 Mike Callahan, #42 Eric Lewis, #50 Olandis Poole
• Attendance: 19800
• Duration: 2:28