Paul Pierce poured in 18 points to lead Boston to a 90-77 road victory over Toronto on Sunday, stretching the Celtics' win streak to nine games and ending the Raptors' win streak at four.
Kevin Garnett added 16 points and eight rebounds for the league-leading Celtics (20-2).
Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics drives to the net against Juan Dixon and Kris Humphries of the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
(David Sandford/NBAE via Getty Images)
"My opinion is we played hard, my opinion is they're a better basketball team right now, it wasn't for a lack of effort," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "I didn't see our guys not playing hard, there's a difference between getting beat and not playing hard."
Chris Bosh had 17 points and 13 rebounds to top Toronto (14-11), while Jamario Moon finished with 13 points and Kris Humphries finished with 12. Jose Calderon and Jason Kapono added eight points apiece.
The Raptors played their third straight game without guard T.J. Ford, injured in a frightening fall Tuesday at Atlanta.
The Celtics were missing Ray Allen (sore ankle), but turns out they didn't need their all-star guard.
Boston led from the outset, thanks in large part to Toronto's woeful shooting. The Raptors shot just 29 per cent in the first half and 39 per cent on the afternoon and trailed by as many as 21 points in the second quarter. When Juan Dixon launched an air-ball midway through the second quarter, boos rained down from the Air Canada Centre crowd.
"We just have to come out and be like we usually play. We kind of changed it tonight," Bosh said. "I have no idea [why], I think just because of who it is. Let's play our game first and if they beat us, now we can re-adjust. Let's come out playing Raptors basketball because that gave us success."
The Celtics took a 71-54 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Raptors opened the fourth with a 7-0 run, with a basket by Joey Graham pulling Toronto within 10 points and bringing the Air Canada Centre crowd to its feet.
But the Celtics forced the fans back to their seats in a hurry with a 15-4 run, a three by Eddie House putting Boston back up by 21 points with just under four minutes left in the game, and the Celtics cruised to victory, marking their first nine-game win streak since March 16-31, 1993.
"Their defence was really good," said Calderon, who had four turnovers. "I couldn't find my guys open tonight, maybe forced a little bit more of my passes, I turned the ball over some today. It was tough."
The game was played while a snowstorm raged outside, and while the crowd was announced as a sellout at 19,800, numerous empty seats dotted the arena. The start of the second half was delayed 14 minutes due to a leak in the ACC roof.
The Celtics, who are riding a remarkable turnaround after adding Garnett and Allen in the off-season, shot 49 per cent on the night.
"I thought our guys played with an amazing amount of energy and I thought our focus was very good, which is what you have to have on the road, especially against a team like the Raptors," said Celtics coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers.
Toronto out-rebounded the Celtics 42-35.
Toronto's troubles started early Sunday. They shot just 24 per cent in the first quarter, and a three-pointer by James Posey with 37 seconds left gave the Celtics a 27-17 lead heading into the second.
A three by Tony Allen stretched Boston's advantage to 21 points early in the second. But Toronto fought back, and when Bosh converted a free throw after a basket with five seconds left in the half, it cut the Celtics' lead to 50-36 at the break.
Boston went on a 15-4 run in the third to take a 69-46 lead with 1:21 left in the quarter, and led 71-54 with one quarter left.
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