Boston Celtics trounce 3000th Franchise history, 122-102 against Toronto Raptors
The Boston Celtics pinned down a 20 point lead over the struggling Toronto Raptors, Friday night at hometown. More than 18,000 people witnessed the deadly assault they put on the Raptors who were limited to 51 percent from the field.
Ever since Rondo has made a comeback after his absence due to injury, the Celtics have found their lost hopes. This night however the star for the Celtics in this game was rookie Luke Harangody. The 23-year-old power forward scored his career high 17 points
and grabbed 11 rebounds. The arena buzzed under Luke’s name and the star was an eye candy with his brilliant performance. The 2010 NBA Draft pick made his first NBA double-double that helped Boston clinch their 3,000th win in team’s franchise history.
Players’ stats
Toronto Raptors played to their utmost level too. All of the five starters came forward with double figures. DeMarcus DeRozan scored 20, Linas Kleiza and Andrea Bargnani added 17 each while Jose Calderon contributed 11.
Four of the five Celtics starters came out with double figures as well. Paul Pierce scored the highest, 20. Ray Allen added 17, Glen Davis added 14 and the big guy Shaquille O’Neal netted 12.
Game stats
The Celtics went 52 percent in free throw attempts limiting the Raptors to just 37. The Raptors went 69.6 percent in free throw attempts and the Celtics kept close, 67.9. Even though pulling closer in stretch and trying to break in to the game, Boston Celtics
gave away 16 turnovers while the Raptors were careful enough to give 11 only.
The Celtics took the biggest lead with 26 points and outrebounded the Raptors, 43-31. The Celtics even made 54 points in the paint outscoring Toronto with 10 while limiting them to 44.
The Raptors tried to keep in pace with the Celtics as they were worried that they might lose. In the third quarter with Leandro Barbosa’s three pointer assisted by DeRozan, closed the Raptors to the Celtics, 84-71. The Celtics re-marginalised as Pierce truncated
some free throws out of Calderon’s shooting foul and Davis hooped two out of one that Kleiza committed.
Turning point
The Celtics leashed on a 15-1 run after Bargnani tried to cross the red line, closing to 98-86. The Celtics then teamed up to score 10 points in that 15-1 stretch and knocking down the Raptors.
Toronto Raptors have been facing bad luck in their previous games even though they have been shooting well enough to down the opponents. The Raptors have now lost four out of five games even though they shot 40 for 79 on Friday.
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