TORONTO – The Toronto Raptors hope the way in which they completed the primary half of the season is an indication that higher occasions are forward for the struggling NBA crew.
Led by RJ Barrett’s 22 factors, 10 rebounds and eight assists, the Raptors (10-31) defeated the league’s defending champion Boston Celtics 110-97 on Wednesday.
Scottie Barnes additionally loved a strong outing with 18 factors and 9 assists earlier than 18,566 at Scotiabank Enviornment.
The win arrived two days after the Raptors knocked off the 2021-22 champions, the Golden State Warriors. Collectively, the victories mark Toronto’s first back-to-back wins since Dec. 1 and three.
“We’re not the place we need to be,” stated Raptors level guard Davion Mitchell, who changed an injured Immanuel Shortly (left hip pressure) on Wednesday. “I really feel like there’s at all times room for enchancment. In fact, we don’t desire a report like this.
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“We misplaced quite a lot of shut video games, acquired blown out a few occasions. However I really feel like we’re studying.”
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The Raptors are six wins behind the tempo they set final 12 months after they hit the first-half publish at 16-25.
Barrett feels Toronto has been a tougher crew to play towards since an embarrassing 124-104 loss at house to the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 6.
“Since then we’ve been taking part in laborious and getting higher,” he stated.
Barrett and the Raptors had revenge on their minds towards the Celtics after a 125-75 loss in Boston on New 12 months’s Eve.
“A recreation like that at all times sticks with you,” stated Barrett.
“We owed them,” Mitchell added. “We’re not simply gonna get blown out and lay down, simply because they’re a very good crew, simply because they received the championship.
“No, we’re gonna make a push even more durable. We’re gonna be extra bodily.”
Mitchell, who scored 10 factors, exhibited physicality with two early fouls.
“It was a tricky loss for us in Boston,” Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic stated. “Guys are coming again, we’re getting our well being again.
“This group may be very related and a really prideful group. So we actually wished to go on the market and compete on the best stage of what we are able to do at this level.”
Toronto confirmed a robust aggressive stage defensively, limiting the Celtics to solely 15 fourth-quarter factors.
Raptors centre Jakob Poeltl was good for 16 factors, whereas Grady Dick chipped in 12.
Reserve guard Payton Pritchard led the Celtics with 20 factors, adopted by Kristaps Porzingis with 18 and Jayson Tatum with 16.
Toronto loved an 88-82 benefit after three quarters. The house crew opened the ultimate 12 minutes with a 9-2 run to increase its result in 13 factors.
The Raptors trailed 29-25 after the primary quarter however led 55-53 on the half.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 15, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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