Celtics Get Back in Right Direction With Victory in Toronto

By John in Celtics, Featured, Top Story ⋅ January 2, 2011 at 10:36pm ⋅ Post a comment

Ray Allen #20 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Jose Calderon #8 of the Toronto Raptors during a game on January 2, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2011 NBAE (Photo by Ron Turenne/NBAE via Getty Images)

Two straight losses didn’t have the Celtics in good spirits, but they got right back on track by beating the Toronto Raptors 93-79 on the road. Rajon Rondo returned, too. Happy days are here again! Though Rondo wasn’t the biggest contributor to the box score, eight assists and presence greatly helped. It was pretty close in the first half, though. Toronto scored the first four, before Boston scored the next five. The Celtics took a 13-8 lead, but Toronto quickly tied the game. With plenty of ties and lead changes afoot, Boston took a 24-23 lead after the end of the 1st.

Then the Raptors started the 2nd quarter on a 6-0 run to take a five-point lead, their biggest of the night. Boston clawed their way back to a 38-33 lead, following a few sporadic bouts on both sides of poor shooting. Toronto took a couple more two-point leads before Boston kept a one-point lead, 43-42, going into the half.

Toronto still kept themselves in the game; until 4:25 left in the 3rd, when Ray Allen put Boston up 62-57. From there, Boston stretched the lead slowly but surely, out-pacing Toronto’s buckets with multiple scores of their own. Boston led 71-62 going into the final quarter.

Another 6-0 run brought the Raptors within three, but that’s as close as they ever got again. Boston held off one more mini-run attempt, and took their first double-digit lead, 85-75, with 3:47 left on Ray Allen’s three. Boston never led by single digits again, and scored the next points after each of Toronto’s two remaining buckets. Boston took the 93-79 lead, the biggest point disparity of the game, with 1:03 remaining. Toronto couldn’t get any more points in the last 2:09. One offensive foul on their last possession, and Boston ran out the clock to stay on top of the Heat.

C’s Stud of the Game: Paul Pierce

30 points and a perfect 3/3 from beyond the arc really helped the Celtics out. Along with Ray Allen and Glen Davis, Pierce combined for 68 points.

C’s Dud of the Game: Everyone in the Paint

Boston had just two offensive rebounds in the game. Two. And both of those belonged to Jermaine O’Neal. Toronto had 19 offensive boards spread across five players.

Game Notes:

Scoring Leaders: Paul Pierce (BOS 30), DeMar DeRozan (TOR 27), Ray Allen (BOS 23)
Field Goal Leaders: DeMar DeRozan (TOR 11/25), Paul Pierce (BOS 10/15), Ray Allen (BOS 10/18)
Three Point Leaders: Paul Pierce (BOS 3/3), Ray Allen (BOS 3/5), Linas Kleiza (TOR 1/6)
Free Throw Leaders: Paul Pierce (BOS 7/8), DeMar DeRozan (TOR 5/8), Glen Davis (BOS 3/4), Joey Dorsey (TOR 3/8)
Rebound Leaders: Joey Dorsey (TOR 13), Glen Davis (BOS 11), Amir Johnson (TOR 10)
Assist Leaders: Jose Calderon (TOR 10), Rajon Rondo (BOS 8), Glen Davis (BOS 8,)
Steal Leaders: Leandro Barbosa (TOR 3), DeMar DeRozan (TOR 3), Joey Dorsey (TOR 2), Glen Davis (BOS 2)
Block Leaders: Shaquille O’Neal (BOS 4), four others with one
Foul-outs: none
Technical Fouls: none
Turnovers: BOS 16, TOR 13