Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Nov 16, 2024 8:19 am

Raptors aim to stop skids in matchup vs. Celtics

Jakob Poeltl

The Toronto Raptors will attempt to collect their first road victory Saturday night when they visit the Boston Celtics for the first of four meetings between the teams this season.

The Raptors are 0-7 in road games. The Celtics are only 3-2 at home but 10-3 overall.

It will be the second game in as many nights for Toronto, which is coming off Friday night’s 99-95 loss against Detroit in the second NBA Cup game for each team. The loss extended Toronto’s overall losing streak to six games.

Toronto’s Jakob Poeltl had 25 points and 18 rebounds, but the Raptors dropped to 0-2 in NBA Cup play.

“We depend on (Poeltl) a lot,” Toronto coach Darko Rajakovic said. “He needs to do a lot for us offensively and defensively. … When he is connected with his teammates he’s able to score, but also find his teammates. I think he’s making huge strides for us.”

Toronto’s RJ Barrett added 22 points in Friday’s loss. Gradey Dick scored 16 but was 1 of 10 from 3-point range.

Boston hasn’t played since it beat Brooklyn 139-114 Wednesday night. Jayson Tatum had 36 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in the win. Boston also received 24 points and 12 rebounds from Jaylen Brown and 23 points from Payton Pritchard.

The 139 points were the most the Celtics have scored in a game this season. Boston scored 74 points in the second half.

That victory came one night after Boston lost 117-116 to Atlanta at home. The Hawks prevailed even though Trae Young, the team’s leading scorer, didn’t play because of right Achilles tendinitis.

“As far as our attitude and our bounce-back, I thought that was important,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “There’s going to be ebbs and flows throughout the season. I care more about how we respond to things when they don’t go our way, and I liked the approach that we had to the game today on both ends of the floor.”

Boston committed 20 turnovers against the Hawks, who had a 19-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. The Celtics turned the ball over seven times and had a 12-3 edge in offensive rebounds against the Nets.

“Back to back, obviously heavy legs and stuff like that,” Brown said after the Brooklyn game. “It took a little bit to get settled into the game, but great adjustment, great response. It was just about being physical, being tough and embracing that.”

Tatum, at an average of 30.2 points a game, and Brown (25.4) are Boston’s leading scorers this season. Tatum also leads the team in rebounds (7.6) and steals (1.5). Brown is second on the team in rebounds (7.2) and is tied with Pritchard for second in steals (1.2)

“It starts with them taking responsibility as far as what needs to be done on the floor,” Mazzulla said. “So they played at a high level on both ends of the floor. Defensively, their communication, the accountability on their individual defense. Then offensively, taking the shots that they want to take and getting the ball where it needs to get to.

“So it’s a credit to them, and they know how important two-way basketball on both ends of the floor is for our success.”

For the Raptors, Barrett is averaging a team-high 21.4 points a game, and Poeltl is first in rebounds at 11.6.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

Clippers, Pelicans
Apr 3, 2025 1:12 am

Clippers handle Pelicans, forge 3-way tie for 6th in West

Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points and James Harden added 21 points, 10 assists and three blocked shots to help the Los Angeles Clippers post a 114-98 victory over the visiting…

Thunder, Pistons
Apr 3, 2025 12:48 am

Thunder top Pistons to tie team record for wins (64) in season

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 33 as the Oklahoma City Thunder tied the franchise record for wins in a season with a 119-103 home win over the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. The…

nebraska cornhuskers, hoiberg
Apr 3, 2025 12:17 am

Brice Williams nets 28 as Nebraska beats Georgetown in Crown

Brice Williams scored 28 points on 8-for-14 shooting, and Nebraska held on for an 81-69 win over Georgetown in the quarterfinals of the College Basketball Crown tournament on Wednesday night…

More Basketball News

Clippers, Pelicans
Apr 3, 2025 1:12 am

Clippers handle Pelicans, forge 3-way tie for 6th in West

Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points and James Harden added 21 points, 10 assists and three blocked shots to help the Los Angeles Clippers post a 114-98 victory over the visiting…

Thunder, Pistons
Apr 3, 2025 12:48 am

Thunder top Pistons to tie team record for wins (64) in season

nebraska cornhuskers, hoiberg
Apr 3, 2025 12:17 am

Brice Williams nets 28 as Nebraska beats Georgetown in Crown

Spurs, Nuggets
Apr 2, 2025 11:43 pm

Spurs maintain lead to beat short-handed Nuggets

Mavericks, Hawks
Apr 2, 2025 11:18 pm

Anthony Davis’ late hoop rescues Mavs against Hawks

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds