(Boston) Chris Boucher set a personal high with 30 points but the Toronto Raptors were defeated 132-125 by the Celtics in Boston on Thursday.
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Thus ended the first half of the season for the Raptors (17-19).
Montrealer Boucher led his team with five three-pointers, but Boston beat Toronto for the third time in as many chances this season.
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown provided 27 and 21 points for the Celtics, who deserved a fourth straight win.
“Their players are very strong and they play in a great system,” said Sergio Scariolo, who leads the Raptors in Nick Nurse’s absence, due to pandemic protocols.
For the Raptors, Norman Powell had 25 points and Terence Davis 22.
Kyle Lowry set a career-high 19 assists, in addition to recording 14 points.
Toronto led by nine points midway through the second quarter, and the visitors finished the half with a 70-66 lead.
Early in the third quarter, Boston took control with an 11-2 push and after 36 minutes, the Celtics were nine points in cushion.
A three-point shot from Boucher reduced the Celtics’ lead to 121-117, with 3:16 on the clock. The home side, however, kept control with timely free throws and baskets.
“At the start of the second half, it was the only part of the game where we had a certain relaxation,” said Scariolo.
“At the end of the game we were probably tired, but we did the best we could. I am very proud of our collective effort. ”
The Raptors were once again without Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, OG Anunoby, Patrick McCaw and Malachi Flynn – all in connection with the league’s protocols, regarding the pandemic.
Siakam was missing a third game in a row, like Nurse and several of her assistants, also due to protocols.
The other players were missing a second game in a row.
Siakam and VanVleet lead the Raptors with 20.1 points per game this season.
Scariolo led the team for a third time.
The Celtics beat the Raptors by 12 points in January and by 14 points in February.
The All-Star Game is Sunday in Atlanta.
The Raptors will start the second leg of the season on March 11 in Tampa, against the Atlanta Hawks.
“We’re starting to play better and more efficiently,” said Powell. We still have to go for a long series of victories, as we used to do (in previous seasons).
“Getting back to full training with the return of absentees, that should help us. ”
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