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Boston Celtics outduel Toronto Raptors 117-108 in mid-season classic

By Denholm Harold

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors on January 16, 2019 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 16: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Boston Celtics shoots the ball against the Toronto Raptors on January 16, 2019 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors 117-108 on Wednesday night, snapping their three-game losing streak. They are now 26-18 on the season.

The Boston Celtics faced off against their Atlantic Division rivals and Eastern Conference leaders the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night at the TD Garden in Boston. It was a battle of superstar scorers as Kawhi Leonard and Kyrie Irving dueled the whole game relentlessly as the Celtics were able to pull out an emotional, gutsy 117-108 win to snap their three-game losing streak.

The win puts the team at 26-18 for the season and gives Boston the 2-1 edge over the Raptors in the season series. And what a game it was.

The Celtics started the game sluggishly, this being their first tilt at full strength since the injury to Baynes a few weeks ago. Leonard and Lowry led the way for the Raptors early as the lead ballooned to 10.

Leonard and Lowry continued to be thorns in the side of the Celtics as they steered their team to an early six-point lead after the first quarter, but Boston did manage to negate the impact of rising star Pascal Siakam, who often devastates opponents with his relentless energy and effort.

The second quarter saw the Celtics put the stranglehold on the Raptors. The Celtics started the quarter strong and never let up as the stifling defense took control of the game, restricting the Raptors to 17 points in the quarter and putting up 34 themselves.

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Gordon Hayward asserted his control over the game with timely buckets and aggressiveness capitalised by a huge step-back 3 to put the C’s up 11. The Shamrocks missed several opportunities early in the quarter to extend the lead because of sloppy passing and silly turnovers which cost them during a part of the game where the Raptors simply couldn’t score.

Boston limped into the second half after putting the sleeper hold on the Raptors in the 2nd quarter; the lead evaporated after a surge from the Raptors that saw the deficit trimmed to 2. Some heroics from Irving and Horford kept Boston afloat, but Toronto managed to steal much of the momentum.

Raptors center Serge Ibaka has steadied his Toronto squad all season after being strongly criticised for his poor play in the playoffs last season. He was automatic for the Raptors as he seemingly couldn’t miss all night from the low block. Kawhi Leonard proved countless times why he’s an MVP candidate with powerful moves that were simply unguardable even from the strongest and most versatile defenders.

Boston missed several chances late in the third quarter to extend the lead, even with Al going on a personal 7-point run including a monster jam on Ibaka and an and-one. The Celtics held a four-point lead heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter was one for the ages; an exclamation point on what was an instant mid-season classic between two powerhouse clubs in the Eastern Conference. The Raptors raced out of the gate early, erasing the lead the Celtics had built before surging to a lead of their own.

The well had dried up for the Celtics as they were 2-12 from the floor with 6 minutes to go in the game before Kyrie Irving put the finishing touches on his masterpiece. The Celtics all-star floor general finished with 18 assists on the game, a career high, as well as several instrumental buckets to keep the team afloat.

Irving and Horford continued to demonstrate their electric chemistry on the pick-and-pop as the former found the latter for some amazing shots and finishes that the Raptors had no answer for. When Danny Green tied the score at 106-106, many thought that this game was headed for overtime – until Kyrie Irving showed the world why he is one of the most dangerous individuals alive with the basketball. Some wizardry by No. 11 included a characteristically lethal step-back and a 3-point bomb from the logo to put the C’s ahead for good.

The win for the Celtics quiets many of their detractors who had been quick to question the locker room chemistry after a three-game slide. Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier both played themselves back into the trust of Celtics fans, and the welcome return of Aron Baynes brought stability and identity to this unit. Tonight’s game also saw the first time that Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford all scored 18+ on the same evening.

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Boston is now 26-18 on the season, and their campaign continues Friday night at the TD Garden against Memphis.

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