After the Toronto Raptors got a huge last second game winning three-pointer from OG Anunoby on Thursday night, they used that momentum Saturday night to even their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Boston Celtics with a 100-93 win in game four at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The best of seven is now a best of three tied 2-2.
Toronto led the entire first quarter by as many as seven and still held a 31-27 advantage at the end of first 12 minutes. After the Raptors took an eight point lead early in the second, the Celtics would finally catch them and tie it on a three point play by Marcus Smart with 4:13 to go in the first half. Boston took their first lead on a pair of Semi Ojeleye free throws, but a Fred VanVleet three-pointer buzzer beater evened things at the break 49-49.
After both teams led early in the third, Toronto once again extended the lead to eight on a Pascal Siakam three-pointer part of a 12-3 run. Another VanVleet three-pointer made it an 11 point lead, and the Raptors led by eight headed for the final quarter. Toronto would eventually match their biggest of 11, and Boston would only get as close as five twice in the fourth, once on a Kemba Walker three-pointer with 5:14 to go and again on a Jayson Tatum three point play with just under a minute remaining but that is as close as they would get on a cold shooting night for the green.
Tatum led Boston in the loss with a double double scoring 24 points and hauling in 10 rebounds. Walker had 15 points and eight assists, while Jaylen Brown added 14 points and six rebounds. Brown shot 4-18 from the field and only 2-11 from three point range, as the Celtics only went 7-35 (20%) from deep on the night. Siakam led Toronto to their second consecutive win with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Kyle Lowry also a good night filling up the stat sheet with 22 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks. Serge Ibaka added 18 points, VanVleet 17, and Anunoby had 11. The Raptors shot 17-44 from behind the arc (39%). Game five is Monday night at 6:30 p.m.
