The Toronto Raptors took benefit of Jayson Tatum’s third-quarter ejection and concluded pre-season motion with a 137-134 extra time win over the Boston Celtics on Friday in entrance of a sold-out Bell Centre.
With Pascal Siakam on a relaxation day, O.G. Anunoby was Toronto’s shining mild, selecting up 32 factors and 6 rebounds.
“He discovered the ball himself so much and he acquired himself open and he acquired himself in the proper conditions,” mentioned Raptors head coach Nick Nurse about Anunoby. “He’s acquired to proceed to try this when (Siakam and Gary Trent Jr.) are on the ground.”
Toronto ended its pre-season with a 3-2 document and a second consecutive extra time win over Boston.
Down for a lot of the fourth quarter after constantly main the earlier three, the Celtics rallied in the ultimate minutes. Looking to steal the sport away from the Raptors and their house crowd away from house, Boston guard Payton Pritchard missed the potential sport winner as regulation got here to an in depth.
“Our unit that was on the market, we did a great job of continuous to combat even after (Tatum’s ejection) occurred,” mentioned Celtics ahead Grant Williams. “We acquired to execute a bit higher to perhaps take that stretch however I assumed we competed.”
Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet (23) will get by Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) throughout second half NBA pre-season basketball motion in Montreal, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Khem Birch was the beginning centre for the Raptors in his hometown. The Montrealer picked up 4 factors, 4 rebounds and two assists.
“I believe that it was particular for him,” mentioned Nurse. “He’s been combating with me somewhat bit about minutes and a chance. And once more, I assumed he took benefit of it. He virtually had a very excellent sport. He was actually taking part in on each ends, doing a variety of issues.”
Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum (0) shoots over Toronto Raptors’ Khem Birch (24) as Raptors’ Scottie Barnes (4) seems on throughout first half NBA pre-season basketball motion in Montreal, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
The Bell Centre crowd acquired an early alternative to cheer on their native participant when Birch drove to the web for a dunk in the primary quarter.
“I assumed he was a presence and that is what he must be,” Nurse added. “He’s lengthy, he is athletic, he must be a hard-playing presence. I gotta really feel him on the market.”
Nurse was additionally impressed by the Montreal crowd, who energized each groups and “acquired their cash’s value” with a Raptors extra time victory.
“It’s at all times one thing {that a} pre-season sport has that a lot vitality and a number of the stops we make,” Nurse mentioned. “That is an enormous enviornment, I like the way it goes up so quick. Even the folks means up excessive are proper on prime of the court docket.”
The Celtics pulled away with a 12-point lead in the second quarter however Anunoby’s 25-point first half paced the Raptors as they bridged the rift. Boston held a 66-63 benefit at halftime due to Tatum (15), Jaylen Brown (12) and Derrick White (14) all ending the half with double-figure scoring.
The sport’s depth surpassed pre-season requirements when Tatum was ejected from the sport after receiving a second technical foul with 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Toronto made a push and tied the sport at 98-98 going into the fourth.
The Raptors pulled away with a seven-point benefit in the fourth quarter however Boston got here again to take a 125-124 lead when Sam Hauser hit a three-point shot with 1:12 remaining.
Tied 127-127, Pritchard missed a possible sport winner, sending the competition to extra time.
The Raptors rallied with 10 factors in the additional body and denied Boston’s last-ditch effort to shut the win.
Toronto Raptors’ Scottie Barnes (4) will get by Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum throughout second half NBA pre-season basketball motion in Montreal, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
CANADIANS ON DECK
Alongside Birch, Dalano Banton was the Raptors’ second Canadian participant on the court docket. The Toronto native tallied 13 factors, 4 rebounds and three assists Entering his sophomore season, Banton is trying to make an affect off the bench.
“He’s doing good, he is really grow to be a type of secondary scorer,” Nurse mentioned about Banton. “Probably the perfect issues that I like are that he simply seems far more snug on the market (and) simply in basic, he is actually doing a great job of organizing the play calls and transferring the items and issues like that.”
Toronto Raptors’ Dalano Banton (45) goes up for a basket throughout extra time NBA pre-season basketball motion in opposition to the Boston Celtics in Montreal, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Montreal native Chris Boucher didn’t play because of a left hamstring pressure and remained in Toronto with a non-COVID sickness. Mfiondu Kabengele was the lone Canadian for the visiting Celtics however didn’t play.
FINAL ROSTER SPOT
Forward Justin Champagnie made the ultimate roster spot, the group introduced Friday. Toronto waived forwards Gabe Brown, Josh Jackson and D.J. Wilson with its last roster cuts after the victory.
SOLD-OUT EVENT
Tickets for Friday’s sport offered out in 9 minutes. The Bell Centre hosted eight pre-season video games as a part of the NBA Canada Series. This was the primary sport performed in Montreal since Kawhi Leonard’s Raptors took on the Brooklyn Nets in 2018.
UP NEXT
The Raptors will host the Cleveland Cavaliers in their season opener on Oct. 19 earlier than occurring a three-game street journey. The Celtics will welcome the Philadelphia 76ers for his or her season opener on Oct. 18.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Oct. 14, 2022.