Following a disappointing loss to the Indiana Pacers, the Celtics wrapped up the year with a dominant performance against the Toronto Raptors. Boston emerged victorious with a convincing 125-71 win, marking their largest margin of victory for the season.
Six Celtics players achieved double-digit scores, led by Jayson Tatum who contributed 23 points and 8 rebounds on 6-13 shooting (4-9 from three). Payton Pritchard added 19 points off the bench, while Derrick White recorded 16 points and 4 blocks. Boston showcased their shooting prowess by sinking 22 three-pointers in the 54-point blowout, the second-largest win in franchise history.
The 54-point final spread was the 2nd largest in Celtic franchise history and largest ever at home.
Boston scored more in the 2nd half (80) than Toronto did in the game (71).
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) December 31, 2024
The Celtics struggled at the start, missing their first 8 shots before Jaylen Brown scored with a layup at the 7:35 mark of the first quarter. Boston found their rhythm with an 8-0 run led by Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.
The Celtics extended their lead in the first quarter with a 21-6 run, ending the quarter with a 23-12 advantage. Derrick White impressed with 10 points, including a buzzer-beating floater. Boston’s defense held Toronto to 5-23 shooting and 0-12 from three.
The second quarter saw both teams struggling, with Boston dominating offensively while Toronto continued to miss shots. After a slow start, the Raptors managed to hit back-to-back threes to get back into the game.
Payton Pritchard responded with a long three-pointer for Boston, finishing the first half with 12 points. Boston closed the first half strongly with a 45-35 lead following a Jrue Holiday three-pointer at the buzzer.
Derrick White showcased strong defense, recording his 3rd block in the second quarter. Boston limited Toronto to 10 points in the paint after a previous defensive struggle against Indiana. White and Pritchard combined for 24 points in the first half.
The first-half total of 80 points shared by the Celtics and Raptors marked the lowest scoring half in the NBA for the season.
With 80 combined points, that was tied for the lowest scoring first half in the NBA this season.
— Dick Lipe (@DickLipe) December 31, 2024
After a quiet first half, Jayson Tatum led the Celtics’ third-quarter surge with 18 points, fueling Boston to a 90-53 lead at the end of the quarter. Tatum’s stellar performance and the team’s improved shooting led to a commanding lead over Toronto.
Boston improved their shooting significantly in the third quarter, making 10 threes and scoring 45 points. Their strong shooting display tied the record for most threes made in a quarter in the NBA this season.
In the final quarter, the Celtics maintained their dominance, extending their lead to 54 points over the Raptors. Jordan Walsh delivered a standout performance with a career-high 10 points as Boston limited Toronto to just 36 points in the second half.
The Celtics’ next game in 2025 is scheduled for January 2nd at 7:30 pm, kicking off a four-game west coast road trip against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
