Everything you need to know about the Celtics’ 95-94 win over the Raptors in quickie form.
HEADLINES
Last second thriller: The Raptors foolishly took their sweet time to take the final shot of the game, trailing by just one with 13 seconds remaining. DeMar DeRozan pulled up for a midrange jumper that was nicely contested by Jaylen Brown and the Celtics managed to keep the miss up in the air long enough for time to expire.
Horford shines in return from concussion: The big man showed no rust from his week-long absence, scoring a game-high 21 points for the Celtics.
12 in a row: After two straight losses to start the season, the Celtics have won 12 straight overall, their longest winning streak since the 2010-11 season.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics limited the Raptors to just 18 points in the fourth quarter, locking down with their defense once again late after allowing 24-plus points for the first three frames.
TWO UP
Al Horford: No ill effects of the concussion were on display for the three-time All-Star after a two-game absence. If anything the Celtics could have used a more aggressive Horford after he started the game a perfect 6-of-6 from the field.
Marcus Smart: One game after Marcus went a little too shot crazy in the wake of Kyrie Irving going down, Smart played a far more controlled offensive game. He worked the pick-and-roll nicely and even though the shot wasn’t falling (3-of-10), he did his best to keep the ball moving all night (season-high eight assists) in spite of a couple heat checks.
ONE DOWN
Shane Larkin: A few ankle breaking moves won’t be added to his highlight reel after a brutal shooting night. Larkin was firing early and often in the second unit and the midrange jumper and finishing against the Toronto bigs was not in the cards. He went 0-of-6 from the field in 14 minutes.
INJURIES
None
TOP PLAY
Grown man move from the rookie, one of many on his night.
Tatum on the baseline... Whoa. ??? pic.twitter.com/mV58a0rcko
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 12, 2017