The Celtics superstar had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation, but his buzzer-beater attempt only grazed the rim. However, Tatum got another opportunity in overtime and made the most of it. With 20 seconds left and the Raptors swarming on defense, Tatum had to improvise. He pulled up from well beyond the arc and knocked down the absurd triple, giving the Boston Celtics (11-3) a 126-123 win over the Raptors (2-12) on November 17.
Jayson Tatum was impressive all night, tallying 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. Jaylen Brown was all over the court with 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists while putting on a defensive masterclass in the fourth quarter and overtime. Neemias Queta, who started in place of the injured Jrue Holiday, scored 12 points, including the layup that sent the game into overtime.
For Toronto, Jakob Poeltl was a major presence in the interior, scoring 35 points on 16-of-19 shooting and grabbing 12 rebounds, leading the Raptors to a 76-42 advantage in the paint. Barrett recorded a triple-double with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists, but the Raptors couldn’t avoid falling to their seventh straight loss.
Tatum and Brown Outmatch Poeltl and Barrett
The Celtics pounced early, opening the game with a 12-0 run. Tatum then erupted, scoring 11 straight, but the Raptors had an answer for both spurts. They opened the second strong, with Battle hitting a three-pointer to steal the lead (45-44). The Celtics responded with a run of their own, restoring their lead to 54-48, but Poeltl punched back, scoring 14 to bring the Raptors within two.
The Raptors took off in the third, going on a 10-2 surge and leading by as much as seven before Pritchard nailed two threes to take back control. The game went down to the wire in the fourth, with Toronto seizing momentum behind Barrett’s clutch plays. Barrett even had a chance to seal the victory, but Brown came up with a game-saving block. In overtime, the Jays took over, combining for 12 points to carry Boston to the win.
Up Next
The Celtics continue their NBA Cup campaign against the Cavaliers on Wednesday, while the Raptors face the Pacers on Tuesday.
