The Boston Celtics were looking for their first post NBA All-Star break win after back to back road losses to Milwaukee, and an embarrassing loss to one of the worst teams in the league in the Chicago Bulls. But Tuesday night wasn’t the bounce back game, and the Celts go to 0-3 since the break getting crushed at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto by the Raptors 118-95.
Boston (37-24) played a very solid first quarter, leading 32-30 after the opening 12 minutes. The second quarter was the backbreaker for the visitors, as Toronto went on a 29-5 run and outscored Boston 36-13 to take a commanding 66-45 lead at the half. The Raptors continued the onslaught in the third, going up as many as 31 in cruising to their 45th win of the season (45-17). Toronto made 17 out of 36 from three point range in the blowout win, while Boston was 6-30 from behind the arc.
Marcus Morris led Boston with 17 points and six rebounds. Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum both had 11 points, with Tatum grabbing seven rebounds. Jaylen Brown also chipped in 10 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Kyrie Irving only played 27 minutes, going 3-10 from the field and putting up seven points. Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 25 points and eight rebounds. Siakam was 10-16 from the floor, and 4-5 from long range. Kawhi Leonard had 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Serge Ibaka added 14 points, and Norman Powell chipped in 11. The Celtics return home to host the Portland Trailblazers Wednesday night at 8 pm.
Meanwhile at TD Garden in Boston, the Bruins continued their solid play with three second period goals to coast to a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. Boston hasn’t lost a game in regulation in 14 straight (10-0-4).
Logan Couture gave San Jose (37-19-8) the lead first when he snuck one in between the pads of Boston goalie Jaroslav Halak on the powerplay at 12:47 of the opening period to make it 1-0. David Krejci evened it up also on a powerplay for the Bruins at 14:39. The second period is when the hosts took over, scoring three goals in a span of 3:19. Charlie McAvoy gave Boston a 2-1 lead at 9:09, and just 37 seconds later Jake Debrusk made it 3-1. Brad Marchand finished off the flurry with a shorthanded marker at 12:28 for the final scoring play of the night. For Marchand, it was the 25th shorthanded goal of his career tying him with Bruins great Rick Middleton for the most ever in franchise history.
Marchand had a goal and two assists to lead the way for the 37-17-9 Bruins. Krejci added a goal and an assist. Halak made 19 saves in the win, while Martin Jones made 27 in the loss in the Sharks cage. Boston hasn’t lost in regulation since a 3-2 setback at home back on January 19 to the New York Rangers. They sit in second place in the Atlantic Division and in the Eastern Conference behind Tampa Bay, whom they will host Thursday at 7:30 pm at TD Garden.
