Celtics fall to Raptors 113-101

The Boston Celtics suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the Toronto Raptors 113-101 Friday night.

Toronto salted the game away with a 10-0 run in the fourth. The Raptors led by five with three minutes to go in the fourth when Horford got a three as part of an ATO design play. Danny Green answered with a big three and ensuing charge drawn by Kyle Lowry and three put the Raptors up 8 and the Celtics never regained contact.

The Celtics turned the ball over 3 times in the first six minutes, including two quick fouls from Horford. This came in a sloppy first quarter for both teams, as both squads had 6 turnovers in the first quarter.

Gang Green finally took a strong 8 point lead late in the second on a Jaylen Brown corner three. However, it was promptly erased by a big 3 point shot by Serge Ibaka. The half ended on a Fred VanVleet coming up with a loose ball the Celtics couldn’t control and hitting a three at the buzzer to cut the four going into the locker room.

The offense for both squads picked up in the third and the intensity ratcheted up with both squads cleaning up their play. After the Celtics fell behind in the third. big steal in transition and three from Tatum pulled the Celtics back within one. The Raptors responded with a dunk and three of their own, before Hayward pulled the Celtics back within a possesion with a downtown bomb. The Celtics had a chance to tie things as time expired on a Hayward steal, but Brown missed the pull up three.

The Raptors got their largest lead of the game midway through the fourth on an OG Anunoby slash, but Horford cut it back to three on the other end. A minute later, Leonard hit a big three to run the lead to six but Marcus Morris Sr. had the answer to keep contact.

The Celtics will be back in action tomorrow night when they take on the Knicks in Madison Square Garden at 7:30 est.