Boston Celtics rout Toronto Raptors 125-71
The Boston Celtics put on a dominant performance on Tuesday night, routing the Toronto Raptors 125-71 and extending the Raptors’ losing streak to 11 games. Jayson Tatum was the star of the show, scoring 18 of his 23 points in a blistering third quarter for the Celtics.
In that third quarter, Boston outscored Toronto 45-18, fueled by a barrage of 3-pointers. The Celtics were scorching hot from beyond the arc, making 10 of 12 attempts in the period. Tatum knocked down four 3-pointers, while Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser each hit two, helping Boston shoot a remarkable 74% from deep in the quarter.
Holiday made a successful return to the lineup after missing three games with a shoulder injury, contributing 14 points to the Celtics’ cause. Payton Pritchard had a strong game with 19 points, Derrick White added 16, and Hauser finished with 12 points. Jaylen Brown chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds.
On the other side, Scottie Barnes led the way for the struggling Raptors with 16 points and 13 rebounds, while Jakob Poeltl added 13 boards. Toronto’s woes continued as they finished the month of December with a disappointing 2-11 record.
The key takeaways from the game were clear. Toronto’s early turnovers and poor shooting set the tone for their defeat, while Boston’s suffocating defense and hot shooting from deep proved to be the difference. The Celtics cruised to a 90-53 lead by the end of the third quarter, allowing them to rest their starters in the final period.
A key moment in the game came in the first quarter when the Celtics, after a slow start, went on an 8-0 run sparked by consecutive 3-pointers from White and Holiday. From that point on, Boston never looked back.
One of the key stats of the game was Boston’s ability to force turnovers, with the Celtics generating 21 takeaways while committing just 13 themselves.
Looking ahead, the Raptors will aim to bounce back as they host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, while the Celtics will kick off the new year with a road game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. The Celtics will look to carry the momentum from their emphatic victory into the new year and continue their push towards the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
