Jaylen Brown had a game high 27 points on Monday night as the Boston Celtics responded in a big way from back to back losses in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with a resounding 111-89 win in game five over the Toronto Raptors at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Boston now leads the best of seven series 3-2.
Boston took it to Toronto early and often in the first half, as the green broke out to a 16 point first quarter lead. Seven early points from Brown had the Celtics up 25-11 after the opening 12 minutes, as Toronto matched a franchise record for lowest number of points in one quarter of a playoff game on 4-20 shooting. The Raptors got within 12 about four minutes into the second quarter, but the Celtics continued to pour it on and would outscore their opponent 25-9 over the next seven minutes to take their biggest lead of the first half at 60-32. Boston led 62-35 at the break behind 18 from Brown, who shot it badly in a game four loss.
The Celts never let the Raptors back in the game, a Brown step back jumper and a Jayson Tatum finger roll gave Boston a pair of 30 point leads in the third. Toronto did get within 17 late in the fourth in garbage time, as most of the starters were out of the game at that point.
Brown added six rebounds and three steals to lead the way in the Boston win. He shot 10-18 from the field, as compared to 4-18 in game four. Kemba Walker added 21 points, four rebounds, and seven assists. Also getting into double figures was Tatum with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, Daniel Theis with 15 points and eight rebounds, Brad Wanamaker also had 15 points, and Marcus Smart had 12 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Fred VanVleet led Toronto in the loss with 18 points, five assists, and three steals. The Celtics shot 50% from the floor in the game, while the Raptors shot 39%. Game six is Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.
