The Toronto Raptors let a 22-point lead slip away Wednesday as Jayson Tatum helped the Boston Celtics rally for a 98-93 victory in Toronto, according to The Canadian Press report published by Sportsnet.

Tatum finished with 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as Boston improved to 10-2 with its fifth consecutive win. Derrick White added 19 points and seven assists. Toronto fell to 5-6, dropping below .500 for the first time this season.

The Raptors’ early three-point shooting put Boston in a deep hole. Toronto made 10 threes in the opening quarter, tying a franchise record, and used a 16-3 run to build a 19-point advantage. The Celtics eventually faced their largest deficit of the season at 22 points.

Boston responded with a 17-2 run in the second quarter, cutting Toronto’s lead to 61-54 by halftime. The Celtics then held the Raptors to just 32 points over the final two quarters. Tatum scored five of his points in the fourth.

Ja’Kobe Walter scored 17 points for Toronto, including five three-pointers. Mississauga’s RJ Barrett contributed 12 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

Toronto finished 16-for-43 from beyond the arc, shooting about 37 per cent. That was an improvement on its 31.8 per cent three-point shooting entering the game, but the early burst was not enough to secure the win. Boston also held a 45-42 rebounding edge and outscored Toronto 12-8 on second-chance opportunities.

The Raptors were without Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard. Barnes missed his third game with a strained left groin, while Leonard was absent as he recovered from swelling in his left knee.

Toronto visits the Philadelphia 76ers, who are 9-3, on Thursday. Boston’s next game is Sunday at home against the Dallas Mavericks, who are 7-4.

Sources