Toronto Raptors 99-110 Boston Celtics - 5 talking points

In this highly entertaining, up-and-down encounter between the two top sides in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics extended their win streak to 6 games without Kyrie Irving. They did have Al Horford and Marcus Morris back for this game, and they needed all the contribution that they got from both veterans on the night as the Toronto Raptors faltered in money time.

Both teams shot the ball decently for the most part, with Toronto converting 46.3% of their 80 shot attempts while Boston converted 40 of their 88 attempts for a 45.5% field goal percentage.

The Celtics will post their best regular season record under Brad Stevens. Currently, at 53-23, they are only 2 games behind the Raptors at the #2 seed, and could possibly move up to the #1 place by the end of the season.

Here are 5 talking points from the game.

#5 Disparity in 3-point shooting and turnovers between the two teams

The Celtics took excellent care of the ball throughout the game and moved the ball around well in search of the easiest shot for pretty much every play in the game. They only committed 5 turnovers, and eschewed pointless 3-pointers to post 7 makes out of 17 attempts from downtown for a solid 41.2% conversion rate from downtown.

The Raptors, on the other hand, had a cold shooting night. This regular season campaign, they have lived and died by the 3-pointer, and tonight they got killed by their cold shooting from downtown. Lowry made only 2 out of his 10 attempts, while CJ Miles converted none of his 5 attempts.

Even DeRozan, a much-improved 3-point shooter this season, did not have a single make from downtown as Toronto converted only 8 of their 35 looks for a measly 22.9% rate. The Raptors were also with the ball, committing 15 turnovers and allowing the Celtics to get 8 extra shots - which ultimately made the difference between a close loss and a clear beating.

#4 DeMar DeRozan did DeMar DeRozan things

DeMar DeRozan

If there are any doubts about whether or not DeMar DeRozan can play to his regular season level in the playoffs, this night is one of the reasons why one should dispel such notions from their mind. Playing some of the most efficient offense that he's ever played, DeRozan was a singular thorn in the league-leading Celtics defense all night long.

For the first 3 quarters of the game, there was nothing the league-leading Celtics defense could do against the god of mid-range jumpers. DeRozan piled up 28 points of 10-of-15 shooting during this timeframe. While he wasn't feeling it from downtown, DeRozan knocked down almost every mid-range jumper he shot!

He only scored 4 in the 4th quarter, concentrating instead on spreading the ball with the Celtics looking to double-team him. Nonetheless, Deebo finished with 32 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and a block in 36 minutes.

#3 Role players shine for the Celtics

Marcus Morris

Aron Baynes had a great offensive game. Baynes started off scalding hot, knocking down his first 3 shot attempts from 14-18 feet after freeing himself of Valanciunas and getting open looks. He missed a shot from the post subsequently, hitting it short. But then he moved to the 3-point line and knocked down a corner 3 and a straight-on 3 - both were again open looks. He finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Marcus Morris, playing as the 6th man, outscored the entire Raptors bench all by himself on his way to a team-high 25 points. He was aggressive from the get-go, and he got a number of and-1 calls - Morris made 10 of 11 free throws afforded to him by the Raptors defense. He also played great defense and finished with 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.

Terry Rozier was his usual, excellent self, stuffing the stat sheet with 21 points, 3 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal on 8-of-17 shooting. He made 2 out of his 5 3-point attempts and outplayed Lowry thoroughly over the course of the game. In the absence of Marcus Smart and Kyrie Irving, Rozier has emerged as the best third-choice point guard in the league by a large distance.

#2 Jayson Tatum kept the Celtics in the game

Tatum has played like a veteran this season

With every passing game, Tatum looks like the most polished prospect of the 2017 NBA draft. The rookie displayed the kind of decision-making, hustle, and aggression typical of a multiple-time All-Star, and he made a number of huge plays through the first 3 quarters to keep the Celtics from going into too big a hole for the first 3 quarters of the game which were dominated by the Raptors.

Tatum scored 24 points on 16 shots and a 56.25% conversion rate from the field. He also converted both of his 3-point attempts and made all 4 of his free throws. He forced OG Anunoby to the bench with 3 personal fouls early in the 2nd quarter, and with Jaylen Brown rather cold on the night, he more than made up for the scoring deficit of his fellow swingman.

#1 The Celtics defense helped them pull away in the 4th quarter

For the first 3 quarters of the game, Brad Stevens tried out a variety of lineups. While the effort was ever-present on the defensive end, the Celtics defense was largely in flux. DeMar DeRozan was making plays galore, while Kyle Lowry's gravity morphed their defensive shape enough to allow the likes of Valanciunas to affect the game with buckets.

They found their zone in the 4th quarter, however. With Baynes on the bench with 5 personal fouls from late in the third quarter, Horford move to the center position. It allowed the Celtics to keep Marcus Morris on the floor after Monroe subbed out, and Mook guarded the likes of Anunoby, Siakam and CJ Miles quite effectively.

Jaylen Brown's hustle turned the game around. He had a steal and a block within a short span of time, while the rest of the defense packed the paint, giving up the 3 to the cold Raptors on the night. Marcus Morris signed off the defensive performance by emphatically blocking Kyle Lowry late in the quarter.