Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
From Porzingis Pick-and-Rolls to Jaylen Brown Posters, Here's What Stood Out as Celtics Steamrolled Raptors
The Boston Celtics made light work of the Toronto Raptors on Saturday, earning a 117-94 win at TD Garden, their second-straight victory.
The game was likely the most complete the hosts have played this season, dominating at both ends throughout the matchup.
The most points the visitors scored in a period was 26, and they shot an abysmal 38.5 percent from the field for the night. That includes going 10/37 (27 percent) from beyond the arc.
Their struggles speak to their need for a primary scoring threat. But it's also a result of the Celtics' outstanding rotations, communication, and ability to wall off drives consistently.
At the other end, Kristaps Porzingis shined, repeatedly punishing the Raptors in the pick-and-roll, especially when center Jakob Poeltl was on the floor. The former All-Star finished with 21 points and seven rebounds.
Boston also got a stellar showing from Jaylen Brown, who led all scorers with 29 points and produced one poster after another, as highlighted below.
Fellow All-NBA wing Jayson Tatum chipped in 27 points, five rebounds, four assists, and a block. The NBA's far and away leader in plus-minus rating earned a plus-42 in that category on Saturday, a testament to his commitment to playing team basketball and making the right play regardless of whether it's his turn to sacrifice as a scorer.
Now for a video-filled deep dive into what stood out in a win that improves the Celtics, who are second in the East, to 7-2, including 4-0 at TD Garden.
1. The Celtics produced 16 points in the paint in the first frame. While they manufactured no fast-break baskets, they did well executing in the half-court as the opening period progressed, attacking off the dribble and getting points off cuts, including this dime from Kristaps Porzingis to Jaylen Brown for a layup.
Brown, Porzingis, and Jayson Tatum scored four points apiece in the paint in the game's first 12 minutes, helping the hosts take a 30-26 lead entering the second quarter.
2. Sam Hauser's made meaningful progress defensively this season, displaying quick feet and the mobility to stay with perimeter players trying to drive downhill against him. He also has the strength to chest up against those attacks. And he does well fighting through screens.
But the former Virginia Cavalier's primary value is his shooting. It's a welcome sign for Boston to see him recapture his rhythm from beyond the arc in the last few games.
Hauser finished the first half 3/4 from three-point range, helping the C's gain a 13-5 edge in second-unit scoring at halftime.
3. That support for a starting unit that got 17 points from Tatum, leading all scorers after the first 24 minutes, nine from Porzingis and eight from Brown, helped the Celtics enter halftime ahead 55-46.
4. That advantage likely would've been more significant had it not been for eight first-half turnovers. Those giveaways resulted in 12 points for the Raptors, who otherwise struggled against a Boston defense doing a great job rotating, walling off drives, and limiting second chances, surrendering only three offensive rebounds and four points on extended possessions.
5. Porzingis is the perfect complement to Tatum and Brown. A floor-spacing seven-foot-three center who's a knockdown shooter who can punish switches and is a skilled passer is a weapon made in a lab for the Celtics' All-NBA wings.
There's also his immense value defensively, including his ability to hold up when switching onto perimeter players, as demonstrated in Friday's 121-107 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
But to focus on Porzingis' offensive impact on Saturday, Boston repeatedly ran pick-and-rolls, targeting Jakob Poeltl, a simple action that felt unstoppable.
It also yielded a profit when Toronto went small or Precious Achiuwa came in to play the pivot.
6. In an outstanding sequence highlighting the ball movement the Celtics are capable of and how dynamic this offense can become, Porzingis punishing the visitors earned him a low-post touch. After his initial attempt proved unfruitful, he had the sense to kick the ball out, and Jrue Holiday was willing to patiently wait to get it back to him on the re-post.
With the Raptors doubling him, the former All-Star swung the ball to the far-side wing, where Al Horford quickly got it to Hauser for a corner three.
7. The hosts outscored their guests 33-25 in the third frame, holding Toronto under 30 for the third-straight period.
The Raptors shot 37.5 percent from the field in the third quarter. They finished below 40% in two of the first three frames. Their lack of a premier scoring threat is glaring, but Boston's defense was outstanding on Saturday night. The switches, communication, and staying in front of drives flatlined the visitors' offense.
8. Jaylen Brown produced one poster after another in Saturday's win, soaring over anyone unwilling or not quick enough to get out of the way.
The two-time All-Star also roasted Raptors' star Scottie Barnes, then sliced through the remaining defenders in his way en route to a layup.
He also teamed with Tatum for an alley-oop in transition that sent TD Garden into a frenzy.
9. Up next, the Celtics host the New York Knicks on Monday night in a matchup that tips off at 7:30 EST at TD Garden.
Further Reading
Jaylen Brown on Celtics Learning from Losses and Building Chemistry: 'It's a Learning Curve'
Celtics' Stars Shine, Bench Helps Boost Boston to Win in First In-Season Tournament Tilt
Kristaps Porzingis Assesses Celtics Last Attempt in Loss to 76ers
Examining What Went Wrong for Celtics' Offense in Loss vs. Timberwolves
Jayson Tatum Discusses the Bond Between Him and the City He Stars In
Here's Where Jaylen Brown Impressed Joe Mazzulla the Most in Celtics' Win vs. Heat
Kristaps Porzingis Gives Glimpse of How He'll Boost Celtics Late-Game Offense
Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present
