Jayson Tatum drained a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime, lifting the Boston Celtics to a thrilling 126-123 comeback victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night.
Tatum capped off his performance with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 27 points. Al Horford and Derrick White each contributed 18 points as Boston improved to 11-3 on the season.
Despite a career-best 35-point effort from Jakob Poeltl, who dominated inside by shooting 16-for-19 and grabbing 12 rebounds, the Raptors extended their losing streak to seven games. RJ Barrett added 25 points and 10 rebounds, but Toronto remained winless on the road.
With the game tied at 112 late in regulation, Barrett converted a tough floater in the lane while drawing a foul on Brown with 59 seconds left. However, he failed to complete the three-point play, leaving the door open for Boston. On the following possession, Celtics center Neemias Queta, starting in place of Jrue Holiday (left knee tendinopathy), drove to the hoop for a layup to even the score.
Takeaways
Raptors: Toronto entered the game already short-handed, with Scottie Barnes (orbital fracture) and Bruce Brown (right knee) sidelined. They avoided another potential injury scare when Bruno Fernando rolled his ankle in the second quarter but was able to return.
Celtics: Boston avoided a third home loss and bounced back from an NBA Cup defeat to Atlanta earlier in the week.
Key Moment
With the score tied at 123, Toronto successfully challenged an out-of-bounds call, gaining possession. However, Barrett’s driving layup was emphatically blocked by Queta, giving Boston the ball with 20.2 seconds left. Tatum then sank a step-back 3-pointer at the buzzer to seal the win.
Key Stat
Toronto dominated the paint, outscoring Boston 76-42 inside. The Celtics also struggled in the paint against Atlanta, allowing 68 points in that loss.
Up Next
Toronto returns home to face the Indiana Pacers on Monday, while Boston resumes NBA Cup action against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday.
