In an electrifying pre-season matchup on Tuesday night, the Toronto Raptors edged out the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics 119-118 in a thrilling contest at Scotiabank Arena. The game featured standout performances from emerging talent, exciting comebacks, and flashes of brilliance as both teams used the opportunity to fine-tune their lineups ahead of the 2024-2025 NBA regular season.
Gradey Dick, the Raptors’ dynamic young forward, stole the spotlight with a game-high 27 points, leading all scorers and guiding his team to victory. In only his second season, Dick showcased his growing confidence and scoring ability, sinking shots from all over the court, including clutch moments in a tightly contested game.
“It’s a great feeling to come out here and compete like that,” Dick said in a postgame interview. “We’ve been working hard as a team, and tonight was about continuing to build chemistry and get better. We know there’s a lot of work ahead, but this is definitely a step in the right direction.”
Toronto’s Scottie Barnes, the team’s rising star and the 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year, was equally impressive. Barnes flirted with a triple-double, posting 26 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds in a commanding display of all-around play. His energy on both ends of the floor fueled the Raptors’ early dominance and kept the game within reach during the Celtics’ second-half surge.
Jakob Poeltl, Toronto’s stalwart at center, contributed a formidable double-double with 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. Ochai Agbaji also chipped in with 16 points off the bench, providing much-needed scoring support when the Raptors’ starters took a breather.
Despite it being a pre-season contest, the win carried significance for a Raptors team under the guidance of new head coach Darko Rajakovic. Rajakovic, who took over the helm this offseason, has been tasked with reshaping the Raptors’ offensive and defensive strategies, and Tuesday night’s victory over the reigning NBA champions offered a glimpse into what his system could bring to the franchise.
First Quarter Fireworks: Raptors’ Three-Point Explosion
The Raptors came out blazing, jumping to a 19-point lead in the first quarter, thanks to remarkable shooting from beyond the arc. Toronto’s early offensive explosion was driven by their efficiency from three-point range, shooting an incredible 71.4% from distance and putting up 30 points from beyond the arc before the first quarter even ended. Their ability to space the floor and hit open looks helped create separation from a Celtics team that struggled to find its rhythm early.
Gradey Dick was especially lethal in the opening minutes, knocking down multiple triples and showcasing his deep shooting range. Scottie Barnes joined in the three-point barrage, sinking five of his nine attempts from distance over the course of the game.
“It was something we talked about before the game,” Rajakovic said when asked about the team’s hot shooting. “We wanted to take better shots from deep, and the guys did a great job of finding each other and making those shots early on. It set the tone for us.”
Boston Responds: Celtics Fight Back in the Second Quarter
After a rocky first quarter, the Celtics regrouped and mounted a comeback in the second frame, outscoring the Raptors and clawing their way back into the game. Boston’s stars Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White were instrumental in turning the tide.
Tatum, the reigning NBA Finals MVP, led the Celtics with 24 points, eight rebounds, and six assists, showcasing his versatility and scoring prowess. Derrick White had a standout performance as well, contributing 23 points, including key baskets that kept Boston within striking distance as they chipped away at Toronto’s lead.
Jaylen Brown, who is coming off a career-best season, added 19 points, using his strength and athleticism to get to the basket and create opportunities for his teammates. While Boston’s star trio began to find their rhythm, their bench also played a key role in the comeback effort.
However, despite the Celtics’ charge, Toronto managed to hold on to a slim lead going into halftime, thanks in large part to the play of Scottie Barnes and Jakob Poeltl, who provided crucial baskets and rim protection when the Raptors’ shooting cooled off.
Second-Half Surge: A Back-and-Forth Battle
The third quarter saw both teams trading baskets as the game intensified. Boston’s offense continued to flow through Tatum and Brown, while Toronto relied on Barnes, Poeltl, and the steady scoring of Gradey Dick to maintain their advantage. The Raptors’ defense, anchored by Poeltl’s shot-blocking and Barnes’ hustle, limited the Celtics’ ability to get easy looks inside, forcing them into contested shots from mid-range and beyond.
Rajakovic’s decision to stick with a more balanced rotation kept the Raptors fresh throughout the game, even as Boston began to close the gap. Toronto’s rookie guard Jamal Shead, who has been a bright spot during the preseason, unfortunately left the game in the second quarter with hamstring tightness and did not return. His absence put more pressure on the Raptors’ backcourt, but veterans like Dennis Schröder and the rising star Ochai Agbaji stepped up in critical moments.
The Celtics, looking to fine-tune their rotation before the regular season, limited the minutes of their stars, but the competitive nature of the game forced them to push their starters longer than initially planned. Even with the limited time, Boston’s key players delivered, though the team as a whole struggled with turnovers and missed free throws, which kept them from overtaking Toronto during crucial stretches.
Clutch Moments and Benches Stepping Up
As the fourth quarter wore on, both teams began to manage the minutes of their starters, giving bench players an opportunity to prove themselves in a high-pressure situation. With just over seven minutes left to play, Rajakovic and Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla flushed their benches, trusting their reserve units to close out the contest.
Toronto’s D.J. Carton, who had been relatively quiet for most of the game, seized the moment in the final minute. After Boston’s Jordan Walsh, who is expected to spend much of the season in the G-League, tied the game 115-115 with less than a minute to play, Carton drew a foul on the Raptors’ next possession and coolly sank two free throws to put Toronto back up by two.
However, Boston wasn’t done. JD Davison, another young player vying for a spot in the Celtics’ rotation, drilled a 28-foot three-pointer to give Boston a one-point lead with under 30 seconds left. The crowd at Scotiabank Arena held its breath as the Raptors raced down the court, but Carton once again came up big, drawing a foul with just 11.7 seconds left on the clock. With the game hanging in the balance, Carton made both free throws, securing Toronto’s final lead of the night.
Davison had one last chance to win it for Boston, but his contested three-pointer at the buzzer fell short, sealing the Raptors’ victory.
Key Takeaways
While it’s important not to overanalyze pre-season results, Tuesday’s game offered several key insights for both the Raptors and Celtics as they prepare for the regular season.
Raptors:
- Gradey Dick’s Emergence: Dick’s 27-point performance signaled that the young forward is ready to take on a larger role in Toronto’s offense. His shooting touch and ability to score in bunches make him a valuable asset for Rajakovic’s system.
- Scottie Barnes Looks Ready: After missing significant time due to injury last season, Barnes’ near triple-double performance shows that he is fully recovered and ready to be a focal point for the Raptors this year.
- Jakob Poeltl’s Interior Presence: Poeltl’s 16 rebounds and defensive presence were critical in limiting Boston’s scoring opportunities in the paint. He continues to be a cornerstone for Toronto’s frontcourt.
- Rajakovic’s System Coming Together: Toronto’s ball movement and spacing were noticeably improved from earlier preseason games. Rajakovic’s emphasis on decision-making and shot selection from beyond the arc paid off early, though consistency will be key moving forward.
Celtics:
- Bench Strength: Even though their stars shined, Boston’s bench was the story of the night. Players like JD Davison and Jordan Walsh stepped up in crunch time, showing that the Celtics have depth behind their starting five.
- Turnover Woes: Boston struggled with turnovers throughout the game, an issue that has plagued them in the past. They’ll need to clean that up before the regular season begins if they want to defend their title effectively.
- Tatum and Brown Still Elite: There’s no doubt that Tatum and Brown remain one of the most potent duos in the league. Their ability to create offense for themselves and others will once again be Boston’s biggest weapon this season.
Looking Ahead
With the pre-season winding down, both teams will look to fine-tune their lineups and strategies before their respective regular-season openers.
The Raptors (2-2) will travel to Brooklyn on Friday to face the Nets in their final pre-season game. The focus for Rajakovic will likely be on integrating the remaining pieces of his roster and ensuring that his key players are healthy and in rhythm for the season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on October 23.
The Celtics (4-1), meanwhile, will prepare for their home opener against the New York Knicks next Tuesday, where they’ll begin their title defense in earnest. After a strong pre-season showing, Boston is primed for another deep playoff run, but they’ll need to address their turnover issues and ensure their depth can consistently support their star players throughout the long grind of the regular season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on October 15, 2024.
