The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors put on a playoff-style showdown at the TD Garden on Friday night, as this one once again favored the home team. Kyrie Irving finished with 41 points, as the Celtics outlasted the Raptors in overtime, 123-116. Irving shot 18-of-26 from the floor for Boston, who shot 52 percent from the floor as a team, improving to 5-1 on their home floor. Irving's point total was a season high, as he scored 17 of them in the final 8:06 of regulation to help his team force the extra period. The point guard also added 11 assists to complete the double-double.
It was the first time in his career that Irving had scored 40 points with at least 10 assists in a game, becoming the first player in the NBA to do it this season. He is the first Celtics player to do so since Antoine Walker pulled it off in 2001. Jayson Tatum added 21 points and seven rebounds, as the Celtics evened the season series with their Eastern Conference rivals at one-apiece. The home team in this head-to-head series has won nine straight games.
Irving's big night helped overcome Kawhi Leonard's 31 points, as the Raptors fell for just the fourth time this season, and second time on the road. Serge Ibaka added 21 points, while Pascal Siakam continued to come on strong with 16 points and nine rebounds. The Raptors never led in overtime, as they have now dropped three in a row after a 12-1 start to their season. That losing streak includes blowing a 19-point lead in the second half of a home loss to the Detroit Pistons earlier this week.
Gordon Hayward also produced well, scoring 15 points with five rebounds and five assists, as he played more minutes than any of his teammates at 39 minutes. That is the largest workload he has had this season since returning from last year's gruesome injury. He will lead his team back at it on Saturday night against his former team, the Utah Jazz. Meanwhile, the Raptors stay on the road to visit the Chicago Bulls that same night.
It was the first time in his career that Irving had scored 40 points with at least 10 assists in a game, becoming the first player in the NBA to do it this season. He is the first Celtics player to do so since Antoine Walker pulled it off in 2001. Jayson Tatum added 21 points and seven rebounds, as the Celtics evened the season series with their Eastern Conference rivals at one-apiece. The home team in this head-to-head series has won nine straight games.
Irving's big night helped overcome Kawhi Leonard's 31 points, as the Raptors fell for just the fourth time this season, and second time on the road. Serge Ibaka added 21 points, while Pascal Siakam continued to come on strong with 16 points and nine rebounds. The Raptors never led in overtime, as they have now dropped three in a row after a 12-1 start to their season. That losing streak includes blowing a 19-point lead in the second half of a home loss to the Detroit Pistons earlier this week.
Gordon Hayward also produced well, scoring 15 points with five rebounds and five assists, as he played more minutes than any of his teammates at 39 minutes. That is the largest workload he has had this season since returning from last year's gruesome injury. He will lead his team back at it on Saturday night against his former team, the Utah Jazz. Meanwhile, the Raptors stay on the road to visit the Chicago Bulls that same night.
