BSJ Game Report: Celtics 97, Raptors 93 - Brogdon steps up, C's clinch second seed

Everything you need to know about the Celtics' win over the Toronto Raptors, with BSJ insight and analysis

IN A NUTSHELL

The Celtics started really slow, going two-and-a-half minutes without a bucket to start the game. But they recovered behind Malcolm Brogdon and Jaylen Brown. Derrick White also had a hand in the Celtics taking a lead, and that carried into the second quarter, where the Celtics found some separation to take a 12-point halftime lead. Pascal Siakam helped the Raptors cut the lead to 2 in the third, but Brogdon helped hold them off heading into the fourth. Toronto tied the game in the fourth, but again it was Brogdon who bailed Boston out.

Box Score

HEADLINES

Second seed is official: Milwaukee won tonight, so this win gives Boston the second seed. My guess is they’ll go hard Friday night one more time and then Sunday will be a G League showcase. Philly is officially the third seed. 

An off night: The Celtics couldn't hit a thing, and their cold shooting extended to the free-throw line. The Celtics, who are the fourth-best free throw shooting team in the league at 81.5%, were weirdly 10-18 (55.6%) at the line. Brogdon was able to hit the final two to seal the game. They also shot 28.9% from deep, but the Raptors (18.2%, 6-33) were even worse. 

Depth on display: Brogdon was the story of the game, which means I’ll get more into his night separately. But beyond his great night, They got 32 minutes out of Mike Muscala and he was able to hit some big shots. They were able to toss Blake Griffin in there for a decent stretch. 

“I think it's our biggest strength. It's a really deep team,” Muscala said. “To be shorthanded or to be able to have guys that can rest on back-to-backs, I think is, since I've been here, has been good for the team"

TURNING POINT

The Raptors had tied the game at 82, but Brogdon answered with a 3-pointer, his fourth of the night, to hold the Raptors off.

Boston outscored the Raptors 13-6 to open up a 7-point lead with a minute to go, enough to hold on for the win. 

FOUR UP

Malcolm Brogdon: 29 points on 10-19 shooting on a night where Boston needed something off the bench to make up for Jayson Tatum and Marcus Smart’s absences. He and Muscala were the only guys consistently hitting 3-pointers. 

Derrick White: His left ankle took a little beating in the game, but he stuck around and had another really good night. He missed a couple of makeable shots, but he was a defensive menace once again. 

Jaylen Brown: He started slow but he found a groove later on to go for 25 points and 11 rebounds. He only shot 1-9 from deep, but he led the team with 5 assists. His dime to Muscala for a late clutch 3 was pretty. 

“It was a great pass,” Muscala said. “He's a great player. I missed an opportunity to shoot in the first half, so I was ready for that one."

Sam Hauser: He was only 1-8 from 3, but 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block on a bad shooting night is huge for Hauser. And also this hustle play was awesome: 

ONE DOWN

Fred VanVleet: I’m leaving the Celtics alone in this section tonight (you're welcome, Luke Kornet), so I figured I’d pick on VanVleet, who was 1-12 on 3-pointers. He’s a free agent, so this is rough timing for a bad shooting season. 

TOP PLAYS

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- I’m glad they got the seeding out of the way

I’m happy they didn't drag this out and push it to Friday or Sunday or have to wait for a Philly loss to get this seeding thing settled. They can now take a minute and bask in the moment of getting the second-best record in the league and home court advantage in every series they could play except for the Eastern Conference Finals. 

“It's good, I'm happy for the guys,” Joe Mazzulla said after the game. “The seed doesn't matter as much as the mindset that we've had the entire season. Our goal is to have been a well-balanced team throughout the regular season and finish in the top in both offense and defense. I think we're developing the proper mindset as we head into the rest of the season and the playoffs. It's good, I'm happy for the guys and the win they had today. Mindset, competitive nature, physicality, they brought it and I'm happy for them.”

I think it’s important to stop and understand what you’re accomplishing in the moment. It’s not about feeling satisfied or gloating, it’s about appreciating the journey for a minute. We can get on the guys for dropping to second, but if they're able to steal home court from the Bucks, then it won’t matter quite as much. 

“You can't take stuff like that for granted. To be on a 50-plus win team is an honor,” Brown said. “It takes a lot of hard work that goes into that. It doesn't come around as often as you probably think it is and to be able to be a part of it is a blessing for sure to be a part of a winning organization, to add to it, and to come out each and every night and play with purpose. So absolutely, it is great.”

- Joe Mazzulla is a maniac

Look at this… 

He downplayed it after the game, saying “I wasn't irritated. I got bumped so I was trying to figure out what happened. I got to be better aware of my surroundings.”

But Mazzulla can be intense. If you watch his coaches pickup game before games, you’ll see everything short of a WWE-style steel chair to the back. When Mazzulla said he’d headbutted someone on the court before, he wasn’t joking.

I think it’s hilarious. Robert Williams should have let him go. 

Next up: These same two teams do it again Friday night.