Raptors Cage

Post Game Report Card: Raptors Take Care of Business in Boston

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It wasn’t looking good until the last minute, but the Toronto Raptors pulled away for a 99-90 victory over the Boston Celtics, breaking an eleven game losing streak in Beantown that stretched all the way back to 2008. The trio of Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and Terrence Ross combined for 67 points, while Jonas Valanciunas recorded 15 points and 14 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season. On the flip side, Jared Sullinger torched the Raps in the fourth quarter with 19 points and Rajon Rondo contributed 15 assists despite a brief absence to treat a facial injury. Toronto improves to 40-31 on the season and has regained the third seed in the Eastern Conference. These two teams will meet again on Friday in Toronto.

Offense: A

The Raptors avoided the sluggish starts which have plagued them all season long. They outscored the Celtics 31-22 in the first quarter on 55.6% shooting from the field. Three point shooting was also a key factor in the team’s success, as Toronto shot 45.5% from beyond the arc in the first half. A pair of Lowry threes kickstarted the third frame, and the Raptors surged into the fourth with a 15 point lead. Although the team saw solid offensive production in the fourth quarter, their declining defensive game led to a Boston run. Lowry and Ross sealed the deal with back to back threes, and the Celtics could not answer back. Also worth noting: Toronto outscored Boston 40-28 in the paint. In the absence of Patrick Patterson and with Valanciunas’ pattern of inconsistency, this is definitely an encouraging sign.

Defense: B+

Toronto showed strong defensive rotations the entire night, especially in the paint. Veteran forward Jeff Green was held to just six points in 20 minutes, while big men Kris Humphries and Brandon Bass scored just four points each. The only weakness in the Raptor’s defense occurred on the perimeter. The Celtics shot 50% from three point range in the fourth quarter, with Sullinger knocking down three huge buckets to close the gap. He nearly pulled his team to a comeback, but the Raps supplemented their defensive breakdowns with big shots of their own.

Rebounding: A+

Rebounding wins games. It really does. Toronto won the battle of the boards tonight 48-36 with the help of Valanciunas, Amir Johnson and Chuck Hayes. The bigs were relentless all game long, and they would not back down to their opponents. Lowry also pulled down nine rebounds of his own. It was a true team effort which aided in the winning effort.

Game Ball: Chuck Hayes

Surprised? While the usual suspects (DeRozan and Lowry) put up superb statlines tonight, the veteran big man deserves recognition for his aggression and tough play. He had his fingerprints all over this one, fighting for every single rebound and providing an excellent interior presence in 27 minutes of action. This type of play should never go unnoticed. Hayes proved that he can bring physical value and productivity whenever he steps onto the court.

Important Note: If the Sacramento Kings can manage a win against the New York Knicks tonight, the Raptors will clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2008. As mentioned before, the last time Toronto won in Boston was also in 2008. Here’s a recap of that game for nostalgia/pre-playoff hype purposes:

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