The Celtics did not extend their home winning streak easily on Friday night against the Raptors but they did so in impressive fashion given the personnel. Despite playing without Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford, Boston managed to hold off a Raptors squad playing at full strength with a 120-118 win. The victory was Boston’s 16th straight win at TD Garden to begin the year, which is the second-most consecutive home wins to begin a season in franchise history.
The Celtics are now just one win away from tying team history by matching 17 straight wins set during the start of the 1957-58 season. Boston is also riding a 23-game regular season win streak at TD Garden after Friday’s win dating back to March 8, 2023. That’s the this-longest home win streak in franchise history, with the other two dating back to the height of the Big 3 ea in 1986 and 1987.
Jaylen Brown credited the team’s cohesiveness at home this year to a variety of factors on Friday night.
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“I think it’s a new year,” Brown said. “One, we’re experienced, another year of experience makes a difference. Two, I think the way our team is constructed, it kind of makes things simple with the addition of Jrue and KP, so that’s credit to us players, I think we’ve improved. I think credit to the front office for constructing a team that kind of fits together, and then credit to the coaching staff for making sure that we know where we’re supposed to be, making sure we see where the reads are supposed to be made and making the game real clear for us. I think the coaching has been excellent this year in making sure that we see the game the way a game should be played.”
The Celtics will have a chance to make franchise history when they return to TD Garden on Friday night and host the Utah Jazz after a two-game road trip starting Sunday in San Antonio.
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