The shorthanded Celtics extended their winning streak to five games on Friday night, beating the Raptors 120-118 at TD Garden.
Jaylen Brown returned from a back injury to lead the way for Boston with 31 points and 10 rebounds, with 24 of his points coming in the first half. Luke Kornet also added a season-high 20 points in a spot start for Boston with Jayson Tatum (ankle), Kristaps Porzingis (calf) and Al Horford (rest).
Boston led by as many as 20 points in the first half but a furious Raptors early in the fourth quarter helped the visitors retake the lead against an undermanned Celtics squad as Scottie Barnes hit a career-high seven 3s. Ultimately, Boston fought back late, rallying behind nine fourth quarter points from Derrick White, who finished with 21 points on the night.
The Celtics extended their home record to 16-0 on the year with the victory.
Boston hits the road next to face off the Spurs on New Year’s Eve to kick off a two-game road trip.
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Jaylen Brown catches fire in the first half: The All-Star guard showed no signs of rust after missing a game with a back contusion, coming out of the gate red-hot by scoring 24 points in the first half on 8-of-10 shooting. The veteran also knocked down five 3s in the first half alone including his first four of he game, helping the Celtics run up a 15 point halftime lead despite being down two starters. He struggled with his playmaking in the second half, turning the ball over seven times on the night while cooling off from the field but his all-around contributions (10 rebounds, 6 assists) were still a key part of the win and built on a stellar month for him.
Luke Kornet returns to the lineup with a monster performance: After sitting out the last few weeks with an adductor injury, Joe Mazzulla called on the center in a big spot Friday night. The veteran started with Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined and delivered his best performance as a member of the Celtics, posting 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks in 33 minutes. The big man held up well against an athletic Raptors squad that loved to un and also delivered a tremendously efficient game with his scoring, knocking down nine of his 11 shot attempts. For all the calls for the Celtics to add extra big man depth, Kornet answered the call as a viable option when the team was in a pinch tonight.
Derrick White shakes off an ugly start with a strong finish: One night after playing one of the worst halves of his career, White once again suffered through a miserable shooting night (5-of-19 FG). However, he came up big when the Celtics needed him most, posting nine of his 21 points in the fourth quarter including a game-changing desperation 3 to give the Celtics lead with 3:21 remaining. His seven points in the final three minutes helped Boston rally from a late deficit on a night they didn’t have one of their best closing options in Tatum or Porzingis.
The home record streak lives on: One season after the Celtics were infamous for lethargic performances at TD Garden against inferior competition, Boston has turned the tables. They extended their home winning streak to 16-0 with Friday’s win, overcoming a number of key absences during the streak against all levels of competition. The road remains tough at home for Boston next month with tough teams like the Wolves coming into town but it’s evident the Celtics are a different team at the Garden this year and feeding off the energy of the crowd.
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