The Toronto Raptors are simply playing bad basketball at the moment. They have lost 11 straight games to close out 2024, and Tuesday’s game was as bad as they get. Toronto was given a beatdown by the Boston Celtics. The 125-71 win was a 54 point differential. This was the largest loss in Raptors franchise history and the second largest win in Celtics franchise history.
The 54-point loss broke the record of 48 points. On April 3, 2024, the Minnesota Timberwolves clobbered the Raptors 133-85. The biggest Celtics win in franchise history was by 56 points. On December 8, 2018, the Celtics clobbered the Chicago Bulls 133-77.
In Boston’s Tuesday night win, the Raptors were limited to 12 points in the first quarter, but actually outscored the Celtics 23-22 in the second quarter. The third quarter was all Boston as the Celtics outscored the Raptors 80-36.
Seven Celtics reached double digits in points. Forward Jayson Tatum of St. Louis, Missouri had 23 points and was a remarkable +38. Meanwhile, guard Payton Pritchard of Tualatin, Oregon had 19 points, guard Derrick White of Parker, Colorado had 16 points, guard Jrue Holiday of Chatsworth, California had 14 points, small forward Jaylen Brown of Marietta, Georgia had 12 points, forward Sam Hauser of Green Bay, Wisconsin had 12 points, and forward Jordan Walsh of DeSoto, Texas had 10 points.
The Celtics were a 17.5 point favourite to beat the Raptors. This month the Celtics have been a double digit favourite three other times, but lost to Chicago, Orlando and Indiana.
With the win, the Celtics improve to a record of 24 wins and nine losses, and are second in the East, only behind the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Raptors fall to seven wins and 26 losses.
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