Everything you need to know about the Raptors' 125-122 victory over the Celtics with BSJ insight and analysis
Box Score
HEADLINES
Raptors force a Game 7 in a double-overtime thriller: Kyle Lowry (33 points) led six different Raptors in double figures as the Raptors used small ball to will their way to a thrilling 125-122 victory over the Celtics on Wednesday night to force a Game 7.
The Celtics staved off a number of potential game-winning shots by Toronto at the end of regulation and the first overtime but Lowry and Powell were too much for the C’s in the final minute of the second OT as Toronto rallied from a four-point deficit in the period to close the game on a 19-12 run.
Jaylen Brown had a team-high 33 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds while Marcus Smart posted his second career triple-double with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists but it wasn’t enough for Boston as Kemba Walker’s shooting struggles (2-of-11 FG) loomed large to match Toronto’s hot 3-point shooting in the defeat.
The Celtics and Raptors face off in Game 7 on Friday night at 9 p.m.
Questionable calls overshadow instant classic: The Celtics missed their fair share of chances to close this game out but there were a number of questionable whistles that went Toronto’s way down the stretch. None was bigger than Kemba Walker looking like he got fouled on a potential game-winning drive in the final five seconds of regulation. Jayson Tatum also committed a turnover in the final minute of regulation in a tie game after throwing a pass in the direction Nick Nurse who was on the sidelines corner and was clearly mistaken for Daniel Theis by Tatum. Those are the plays that will get the headlines after this one but a number of questionable foul calls and reversals went against the C’s down the stretch as well, marring a fantastic finish between the two teams. The Celtics gave away Game 3 of this series but the case could be made that they had this game taken from them at the end of regulation.
TURNING POINT
The Celtics and Raptors were trading basket throughout double overtime, with the Raptors holding onto a one-point lead with 58 seconds remaining. Norm Powell put Toronto up for good however with a strip of Tatum that led to a three-point play for the Raptors on the other end, giving Toronto a four-point lead. The Celtics were not able to recover from that deficit after Marcus Smart missed a desperation 3-point shot with five seconds left in double OT.
TWO UP
Marcus Smart: Toronto came out with a box-1 zone right out of the gate in the first quarter, and Smart made the Raptors pay by hitting three 3s in the opening six minutes of the game. He finished with 11 points in the first half on 3-of-5 shooting from deep on his way to the second triple-double of his career (23 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists).
Jaylen Brown in the first half: On the heels of a 27 point performance in Game 5, Brown was the most aggressive Celtic in Game 6 as the Raptors keyed in on Kemba Walker, scoring 21 points in the first half while chipping in with 6 rebounds. It was the highest-scoring half for Brown of the postseason. Brown also added a career-high 16 rebounds.
TWO DOWN
Kemba Walker: The Raptors gave the C’s point guard plenty of added defensive attention in the first half and the C’s weren’t able to get him into good spots to attack. He took just three shot attempts in the first half but he never gained a rhythm even after the Raptors dropped the box-and-1 look on him. Just five points on 2-of-11 FG over 52 minutes was not enough from the Celtics All-Star. A couple more makes from him in regulation and the Celtics are preparing for the East Finals.
3-point defense: The Raptors were due for a good shooting night and they finally got one from their supporting cast. Six different Raptors hit multiple 3s, which forced the Celtics to change their defensive scheme at times and switch more on screens. Even with that, many closeouts were too casual or came too late, which allowed Toronto to make 19 3s at a 40 percent clip on the evening.
TOP PLAY
.@fchwpo's even pulling out the euro step ? pic.twitter.com/ja9wGFul04
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 9, 2020
TWO TAKES B-ROBB WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Brad Stevens has a tough choice to make moving forward against the Raptors small ball lineup: OG Anunoby played center for nearly the final 22 minutes of this game but Stevens declined to counter by pulling Daniel Theis for Brad Wanamaker in order to keep a big off the floor. The decision worked out fairly well during much of the fourth quarter and the first overtime as Theis took advantage of his size edge to get easy looks and cutbacks at the rim. However, the tide turned in the second overtime once the Raptors got the ball movement going. Toronto scored 19 points in the final four minutes of the period thanks to their terrific court spacing and put a gassed Theis in tough positions to close out against shooters and provide help. Given Toronto’s inability to produce consistent offense all series long, it feels like a lock we will be seeing a lot more of this look in Game 7. How Brad Stevens elects to counter it will be pivotal in the win or go home contest. Wanamaker has played well in this series and provides more spacing than Theis as well as a better perimeter defender. Given Toronto’s lack of threats on the offensive glass, going smaller to stay tighter to shooters on the perimeter will have to be considered even though Theis played well in this game before getting gassed late.
Kemba Walker has a lot on the line in Game 7: The Raptors took him out of Game 6 by design in the first half but the Celtics needed a better performance from their top offensive weapon on a night the Raptors were hot. With Brown and Smart putting up career nights in various forms with their rebounding and a triple-double for Smart, a simple subpar game from Walker would have been enough to get the job done in all likelihood. Instead, Walker delivered a stinker with five points over 52 minutes. He already responded well to his own challenge once with a huge bounce-back effort in Game 6 after a passive Game 5. Nick Nurse made the adjustment in Game 6 and now Walker must respond by asserting his will in Game 7. It’s not going to be easy coming off 52 minutes of action on a knee that’s been giving him issues all season long but the Celtics season depends on him playing better than this.