DeRozan, Raptors race past Celtics
TORONTO -- DeMar DeRozan made big shots down the stretch and finished with 43 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Boston Celtics 107-97 Friday night.
DeRozan's jumper in the final minute gave Toronto a five-point lead and his two free throws with 33.6 seconds left made it a seven-point advantage DeRozan made two more free throws with 27.5 seconds left to seal the win.
The Raptors were without All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry, who was a late scratch from the game because of a right wrist injury.
Lowry suffered the injury in the win over the Charlotte Hornets on Feb. 15 but was still able to participate in the All-Star Game this past weekend. The injury will be evaluated during the weekend. The game Friday was the first for Toronto since it played Charlotte.
The Celtics, who led by as many as 17 points in the first half, held tight to a three-point edge entering the fourth quarter.
DeRozan scored four straight points to tie the game for Toronto at 88 with 4:35 to play in the game. Jae Crowder's 3-pointer gave Boston the lead, but the Raptors scored the next five points with DeMarre Carroll's 3-pointer giving Toronto the lead with 3:27 to play.
DeRozan's jumper made it a four-point lead and Cory Joseph's 18-foot jumper gave Toronto a five-point advantage with two minutes left. Crowder's 21-foot jumper cut the lead to three.
Serge Ibaka had 15 points and seven rebounds in his Raptors' debut. Patrick Patterson and Joseph added 11 points each for Toronto (34-24).
Isaiah Thomas led Boston with 20 points and Marcus Smart added 19 points off the bench. Crowder also had 19 points and Jaylen Brown added 13 for Boston (37-21).
Both of the Raptors' new players, obtained in recent trades, were involved early and often. Ibaka, obtained in a trade with the Orlando Magic on Feb. 14, started at power forward. He had a block and four points in the first quarter.
P.J. Tucker, obtained in a deal with the Phoenix Suns Thursday, appeared as a reserve in the first quarter and grabbed 10 rebounds and scored nine points.
The Celtics led by as many as 13 points in the first quarter and were ahead 29-18 at its end.
Boston regained its 13-point lead on a four-point play by Thomas, who hit a 3-pointer and converted the free throw.
The lead reached 16 when Jonas Jerebko made a 3-pointer with 5:43 to play in the half. Toronto reeled off the next eight points to trim the lead to eight.
Boston came back to lead by 17 on Brown's 3-pointer with 1:29 left in the first half.
Tucker made a 3-pointer from the corner and DeRozan made a hook shot to complete the first half scoring, leaving Boston with a 55-45 lead at the intermission.
DeRozan led Toronto with 19 first-half points; Thomas had 11 for Boston.
The Raptors scored went on a 13-4 run to open the second half and trailed by one after Ibaka's jumper.
The Raptors took a 65-63 lead on Ibaka's 3-pointer and stretched the lead to five on DeRozan's jumper and free throw. Crowder's 3-pointer tied it at 68 with 4:15 left in the quarter.
Smart ended the third quarter with a 3-pointer and Boston led 77-74.
NOTES: Raptors F P.J. Tucker was returning to the team that drafted him in 2006. Toronto reacquired him in a trade with the Phoenix Suns on Thursday. The Raptors sent F Jared Sullinger and two second-round draft picks to Phoenix in the transaction. ...Toronto F Patrick Patterson (left knee contusion) returned Friday and entered the first quarter after missing the previous six games following an injury against the Magic at Orlando on Feb. 3. ...Boston F Jaylen Brown (strained right hip), who returned to the lineup Friday, had missed the three previous games. ...Celtics G Avery Bradley (strained right Achilles) missed his 21st game Friday but Boston coach Brad Stevens said that he has progressed well and should return soon. The Raptors will play their next game Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Air Canada Centre. ...The Celtics next game will be Sunday against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills.