Raptors at Celtics
The Boston Celtics opened with a dud on the road and will try to make amends for that performance when they begin their home slate Friday against the Toronto Raptors. Newcomer Kemba Walker scored 12 points on 4-of-18 shooting and the Celtics shot 36.7 percent from the floor in Wednesday's 107-93 loss at Philadelphia.
"Tough night for many of us," Walker told reporters in his debut with the team after signing a $141 million contract this summer. "I wish I could have played a lot better for these guys." The Raptors began their title defense with a 130-122 overtime win against New Orleans on Tuesday at home. Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet scored 34 points apiece as Toronto had a successful first step in its post-Kawhi Leonard era. "Pascal and Freddy, they are the young core, they are the guys who will carry this thing on," guard Kyle Lowry told reporters. "I'm so happy for those guys to go out and perform like tonight. We'll see them grow all year."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN4 (Toronto), NBC Sports Boston
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (1-0): VanVleet started just 28 games during Toronto's title run after coming off the bench exclusively in his first two seasons, but he figures to be a catalyst for the starting five and showed his readiness in the opener by shooting 12-for-18 from the field and dishing out a team-high seven assists. "It's very fun to be in the position that we're in where we just won it but we're kind of on the climb again," VanVleet told the media. Siakam also had 18 rebounds and Lowry finished with 22 points, six assists and two steals.
ABOUT THE CELTICS (0-1): The bright spot in the opener was the play of forward Gordon Hayward, who finished with 25 points. Jayson Tatum added 21 but was 8-of-22 from the floor - 4-of-14 inside the arc. "All that means with Kemba and Tatum, there are a lot of good nights coming," coach Brad Stevens told reporters of his stars' shooting woes.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Toronto Fs Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (groin) and F Patrick McCaw (knee) sat out the opener.
2. Tatum did make 4-of-8 from 3-point range in the loss at Philadelphia, while his teammates combined to go 3-for-18 from beyond the arc.
3. The home team won all four meetings last season.