Celtics finish second in East with 97-93 win over Raptors – Boston News, Weather, Sports

BOSTON (AP) — Malcolm Brogdon scored 29 points and grabbed two late free throws to help the Boston Celtics hold a 97-93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

With Milwaukee’s victory over Chicago, Boston (55-25) secured second place in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Jaylen Brown added 25 points and 11 rebounds. Derrick White ended the opener of a two-game streak with 17 points. The teams meet again on Friday in Boston.

A night after their two-point loss in Philadelphia, the Celtics played without three starters. All-Star Jayson Tatum (bruised left hip), Marcus Smart (neck spasms) and Al Horford (back stiffness) were all given the second night off.

The Raptors (40-40) fell a game behind eighth-place Atlanta (41-39) overall. Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Scottie Barnes added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Toronto only went 6 of 33 from beyond the arc. Boston didn’t shoot much better (11 of 38).

Siakam scored 14 straight points for Toronto to help the Raptors reduce the 13-point deficit to 74-72 late in the third quarter.

Brogdon scored the last five points of the period to give Boston a seven-point cushion en route to fourth place.

Toronto continued to pull away, using an 8-1 run to level the game at 82 before the Celtics responded with five straight points.

A dunk by Precious Achiuwa put Toronto within 89-86. Boston responded again, this time with a 6-2 sprint to bring it back to six with a minute to go.

Boston was running down the clock, but Brogdon’s turnover resulted in a quick break from the Raptors and a dunk from Achiuwa, who was fouled. He completed the three-point game to make it 95-93 by 12.6 seconds.

Brogdon was fouled on the subsequent inbounds pass and hit both free throws.

TIP INS

Raptors: Went 2 for 18 from the 3-point line in the first half. … Siakam had 12 points in the first quarter but was kept scoreless in the second quarter.

Celtics: Brown was honored with the Red Auerbach Award, presented annually by the franchise to the player who “best exemplifies the spirit and meaning of what it means to be a Boston Celtic.”

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