The Celtics haven’t confronted many checks of adversity amidst a scorching begin to the season, however they’re beginning to present they possess resilient traits that may repay down the street.
And on Monday, given the circumstances, they picked up certainly one of their finest wins of the younger season.
The Celtics seemed pissed off throughout the first half. Agitated by the officiating once more, Joe Mazzulla bought a technical foul because the C’s fell behind by double digits. But on the street, on the second night time of a again to again with out a number of key gamers, the Celtics didn’t fold. They emerged from the halftime locker room on a mission, and behind sturdy play from Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart and a game-changing third quarter, the Celtics pulled out a formidable 116-110 victory over the Raptors in Toronto.
Tatum posted 31 factors and 12 rebounds, Smart had 18 factors and 7 assists and Jaylen Brown added 22 factors and eight assists because the C’s persevered with out Al Horford and Malcolm Brogdon to enhance to a league-best 20-5 this season.
The C’s trailed by six after a tough first half by which they shot poorly from lengthy vary and struggled in opposition to a defensively lively Toronto squad, however they did simply sufficient to hold round. Then, they flipped the sport within the third quarter.
The C’s elevated their defensive depth and ball strain, and when the surface photographs weren’t falling, they seemed to assault the rim. The outcomes had been obvious. After sitting out Sunday’s ugly win over the Nets by which his presence was missed, Smart’s play on each ends made a huge effect and Tatum went into takeover mode as he scored 17 of his 31 factors within the interval, which included a number of spectacular drives and strikes across the basket.
The Celtics went on a 23-7 run early within the third quarter because the vitality utterly shifted they usually sustained that momentum. Tatum’s finger roll gave the C’s a 13-point lead – their largest of the night time – late within the third and their sturdy protection led to raised offense. Smart had eight factors and 4 assists within the quarter and added a number of hustle performs because the Celtics turned their six-point halftime deficit into an 11-point lead going into the fourth, the place they closed out the win regardless of a late Raptors run.
Other takeaways and notes from the win:
– Blake Griffin has grow to be a worthwhile asset off the Celtics bench and he continued to thrive Monday night time in his newest spot begin for Al Horford, who was resting on the second night time of a again to again. Playing in simply his fifth sport within the final month, Griffin’s contemporary legs gave the C’s a raise, particularly throughout a shaky first half by which they struggled at occasions to generate offense.
For a second consecutive sport, the 33-year-old Griffin provided a reminder that he can nonetheless fly. Late within the first half, Griffin bought the ball in the appropriate nook and faked a shot on Scottie Barnes, then drove to his left and took off for a one-handed dunk along with his proper hand, drawing a foul within the course of. Griffin’s newest spotlight play bought your entire Celtics bench off its toes and capped a robust half. He completed with a season-best 13 factors in a season-high 32 minutes, which additionally included a number of hustle performs. He took a cost and grabbed eight rebounds, together with three on the offensive glass.
– Horford and Brogdon each missed Monday’s sport. Horford sat the second sport of a again to again for the sixth time this season, whereas Brogdon is coping with a non-COVID sickness. Smart returned after lacking Sunday’s win with a left hip contusion.
Source: www.bostonherald.com