Sam Hauser scored a career-high 26 factors and the Boston Celtics cruised previous the visiting Toronto Raptors 121-102 on Friday night time.
Jayson Tatum completed with 21 factors and sat out the whole second half because the Celtics posted a 4-0 sweep within the season sequence. It is Boston’s first sweep over Toronto since 2009-10.
The Celtics, who secured the No. 2 seed within the Eastern Conference playoffs in Wednesday’s win over Toronto, performed with out All-Star Jaylen Brown after he by chance minimize a finger on his capturing hand on Thursday. He additionally will miss Sunday’s regular-season finale in opposition to Atlanta however expects to be able to go in time for the beginning of the postseason.
Boston will face the winner of Miami and Atlanta within the first spherical.
With one sport nonetheless left on its schedule, Tatum believes his staff is in a superb head area.
WATCH | Celtics cruise to win over Raptors:
Raptors come out flat in essential sport in opposition to Jayson Tatum’s Celtics
Tatum scored 21 factors within the first half, and the Raptors by no means recovered after falling behind large early.
“Experience is the very best trainer. And this group, the final two years, we have been by means of lots,” he stated. “We’ve achieved lots and we have failed. And we have failed collectively. Essentially, we have labored all low season and all pre-season and had an important common season… to get again so far, to get again to the playoffs. To get one other alternative. Another shot.”
Hauser’s scoring barrage was punctuated within the third quarter when Al Horford intercepted a move, tossed forward a bounce move and Hauser threw down a one-handed dunk. It was certainly one of his three dunks for the sport.
“I have not had that many dunks in a sport since highschool, so I’ll take it,” Hauser stated.
Tatum stated Hauser’s progress has put him in place to be known as on within the postseason if wanted.
“It’s only a testomony to how arduous he is labored this low season and this season to be ready for moments like this,” Tatum stated. “He desires to go on the market and produce and we belief him to.”
Raptors to play Bulls in play-in event
Pascal Siakim led Toronto with 19 factors, and Precious Achiuwa added 16 factors and 7 rebounds.
The Raptors entered Friday with an opportunity to enhance their seeding for the play-in event. But the loss locks them into ninth. They will host Tenth-seeded Chicago on Wednesday.
Toronto missed 9 of its first 11 photographs as Boston constructed an early 24-7 lead.
Tatum scored 15 factors within the opening quarter and the Celtics ended it with a 34-16 benefit.
The lead ballooned to as many as 36 factors within the second as Boston acquired to the rim with ease, connecting on 60 per cent (24 of 40) of its field-goal makes an attempt within the half.
