TORONTO (Interstat) — Payton Pritchard scored 33 points, including 19 in the third quarter, to propel the short-handed Boston Celtics to a 112-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. With leading scorer Jaylen Brown sidelined by illness, Pritchard added 10 assists and eight rebounds. Derrick White and Anfernee Simons each scored 15 points for Boston, which used a 34-point third quarter to pull away before a crowd of 19,533. Brandon Ingram and Sandro Mamukelashvili each scored 24 points for the Raptors, who lost for the third time in four games. The Celtics improved to 17-11, while Toronto fell to 17-12. Boston dominated the glass with 17 offensive rebounds and forced 12 Toronto turnovers.

TORONTO (Interstat) — Payton Pritchard delivered a masterful performance, scoring 33 points and dishing out 10 assists, to lead the Boston Celtics to a decisive 112-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena. The Celtics, who also defeated Toronto just over two weeks prior, used a dominant first quarter and a suffocating defensive effort to secure the season series and improve to 17-11. The Raptors fell to 17-12. The most critical phase of the game was its opening minutes, where Boston established a commanding lead from which Toronto never recovered. The Celtics raced out to a 32-20 lead after the first quarter, fueled by an aggressive start from Pritchard and efficient interior play. Pritchard hit two early three-pointers and assisted on two baskets by Neemias Queta, who scored six of his 14 points in the period, as Boston built a double-digit advantage before the game was seven minutes old. Toronto struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Boston’s pressure, committing five turnovers in the first quarter alone. The Raptors’ attempts to climb back into the game in the second quarter, where they outscored Boston 31-17 behind 12 points from Brandon Ingram, were consistently thwarted by Boston’s ability to answer with timely baskets. Every Raptors run was met with a Celtics response, preventing the home crowd of 19,533 from ever fully shifting the momentum. After taking a 49-51 lead into halftime, Boston slammed the door in the third quarter with a devastating 34-point outburst. Pritchard was again the catalyst, scoring 13 points in the period. His step-back three-pointer with 3:28 left pushed the lead to 15, and his fadeaway jumper at the first-quarter buzzer capped a 12-point Celtic run to end the period, extending the advantage to 85-80 and effectively sealing the outcome. The Celtics’ defense was the story beyond the scoreboard. Boston held Toronto to an offensive rating of just 100.8 points per 100 possessions, well below the league average. They forced 12 Raptors turnovers, converting them into key transition opportunities, and recorded seven steals and four blocks. Hugo Gonzalez was a defensive standout with three steals and a block to go with his 10 points and 10 rebounds. Conversely, Boston’s ball movement and control were superior. The Celtics tallied 24 assists on 44 made field goals, with Pritchard accounting for 10 of them. Toronto managed only 16 assists on 36 makes. Boston also dominated the glass, particularly on the offensive end, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second-chance points and extended possessions that wore down the Raptors’ defense. Ingram led Toronto with 24 points and seven assists, while Sandro Mamukelashvili added 24 points, hitting six three-pointers. Scottie Barnes contributed 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists, but the Raptors’ offense too often devolved into isolation plays and contested jumpers against a disciplined Celtics defense. For Boston, the win was a balanced effort. Beyond Pritchard’s stellar line, Derrick White scored 15 points with seven assists, Queta had 14 points and five rebounds, and Luka Garza posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Anfernee Simons also chipped in 15 points. The victory marked Boston’s second straight win and continued their recent solid form, while Toronto saw a two-game winning streak snapped. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Boston on Jan. 9. According to the National Statistical ELO system, Boston entered with a 53.4% probability to win and covered the pregame spread of 1.5 points. The total score of 208 fell well under the over/under line of 223.5, a testament to the defensive intensity, particularly from the Celtics, that defined the contest.

Preview: Celtics at Raptors, Saturday, December 20, 2025 TORONTO (Interstat) — The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors will meet for the second time in two weeks Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena, with both Eastern Conference contenders looking to build momentum heading into the holiday stretch. The Raptors (17-11) enter as the home team with a slight edge in the standings over the visiting Celtics (15-11). Toronto is coming off an impressive 111-105 road victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday, led by Scottie Barnes’ 24 points and 11 rebounds. Boston seeks to rebound from a 112-105 home loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday. The matchup features two of the league’s premier forwards in stellar form. Boston’s Jaylen Brown is averaging 32.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists over his last 10 games, including a 42-point performance against New York on Dec. 2 and a 34-point, 8-rebound, 7-assist effort in the loss to Detroit. He scored 30 points in Boston’s 121-113 win over Toronto on Dec. 7. Barnes, the focal point for the Raptors, is averaging a near triple-double in December with 19.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game. He nearly had one in the last meeting with Boston, finishing with 18 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists. Boston won the first matchup this season behind Brown’s 30 points and 8 rebounds. The Celtics shot 51.7% from the field and outscored the Raptors 66-48 in the paint. Toronto will aim for better interior defense and more consistent scoring beyond Barnes and Brandon Ingram, who had 29 points in the win over Milwaukee. The game kicks off a challenging pre-Christmas schedule for both. Following this matchup, Toronto visits Brooklyn on Sunday, while Boston hosts Indiana on Monday. They will meet again in Boston on Jan. 9. Saturday’s contest could hinge on secondary contributions. For Boston, Derrick White, who scored 31 against Detroit, must provide backcourt support. For Toronto, containing Brown and improving their 3-4 record over the last seven games will be critical to protecting home court and avenging their earlier loss. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.