Malcolm Brogdon scored 29 factors and hit two late free throws to assist the Boston Celtics maintain on for a 97-93 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors on Wednesday evening.
With Milwaukee’s win over Chicago, Boston (55-25) secured the No. 2 seed within the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Jaylen Brown added 25 factors and 11 rebounds. Derrick White completed with 17 factors within the opener of a two-game sequence. The groups meet once more Friday in Boston.
Brogdon, a candidate for NBA Sixth Man of the Year after spending the earlier seasons of his profession in Milwaukee and Indiana as a starter, mentioned he is settled into his new position in Boston.
“Coming off the bench it may be a problem typically, to be sincere,” Brogdon mentioned. “That’s the place you have to suck it up. You’re not going to attain as a lot. You’re not going to play as a lot. I feel that’s what makes an awesome group — having guys which might be ready to do this. Guys which might be in a position to sacrifice.”
WATCH | Brogdon leads Celtics previous Raptors:
Celtics defeat Raptors as Brogdon leads method
Malcolm Brogdon’s 29 factors leads Boston to a 97-93 win over Toronto. The Celtics safe 2nd within the Eastern Conference whereas the Raptors fall a recreation behind eighth-place Atlanta.
An evening after their two-point loss at Philadelphia, the Celtics performed with out three starters. All-Star Jayson Tatum (bruised left hip), Marcus Smart (neck spasms) and Al Horford (again stiffness) all received the evening off on the second evening of the back-to-back.
It made wrapping up the second seed that rather more significant.
“You cannot take stuff like that with no consideration,” Brown mentioned. “To be on a 50-plus win group is an honour. …. It’s nice. And we’re on the point of enter the postseason with a greater feeling.”
The Raptors (40-40) fell a recreation behind eighth-place Atlanta (41-39) within the standings. Pascal Siakam had 18 factors and 11 rebounds. Scottie Barnes added 18 factors and eight rebounds.
Toronto went simply six of 33 from past the arc. Boston did not shoot significantly better (11 of 38).
Siakam scored 14 straight for Toronto to assist the Raptors trim what had been a 13-point deficit to 74-72 late within the third quarter.
Brogdon scored the ultimate 5 factors of the interval to offer Boston a seven-point cushion heading into the fourth.
Toronto saved chipping away and used an 8-1 run to tie the sport at 82, earlier than the Celtics responded with 5 straight factors.
A dunk by Precious Achiuwa received Toronto inside 89-86. Boston answered once more, this time with a 6-2 spurt to get it again to 6 with a minute to play.
Boston ran the clock down, however Brogdon’s turnover led to a Raptors quick break and one other dunk by Achiuwa, who was fouled. He accomplished the three-point play to make it 95-93 with 12.6 seconds left.
WE WON’T QUIT BRUH <a href=”https://t.co/eyTGJTDsvV”>pic.twitter.com/eyTGJTDsvV</a>
—@Raptors
Brogdon was fouled on the following inbounds move and hit each free throws.
He mentioned relaxation and constructing on their basis had been the precedence for the Celtics heading over their ultimate two video games.
“It’s about ending the season robust with good habits. We do not need to lose these two video games,” Brogdon mentioned. “We need to go in with momentum. … I feel that is one of the crucial essential issues for any of the high-seeded groups goes in with momentum as a result of we’ll get all people’s greatest shot.”
