Add this one to the list of close-but-no-cigar losses for the Toronto Raptors.

Jayson Tatum scored a game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer to give the Boston Celtics a 126-123 win over the visiting Raptors. Tatum fell one assist short of a triple-double, tallying 24 points, 11 rebounds and 9 assists. The reigning Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown, led all Celtics with 27 points while chipping in with 6 rebounds and 7 assists.

RJ Barrett and Jakob Poeltl once again led the Raptors. One night after accounting for about 50% of the team’s points, rebounds and assists, the pair did it again. This time at the home of the defending champions, in the second game of a back-to-back home game. Barrett finished his first career triple-double, scoring 25 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and collecting a career-high 15 assists. Not only was it the first time a Raptor had compiled these stats in the same game, but it was also the first time a Canadian had ever had 25 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists. Meanwhile, Poeltl followed a career-high 19 rebounds performance against Detroit with a career-high 35-point performance in Boston!

The Celtics were without Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Jaden Springer, while the Raptors were without…almost half the team again! Scottie Barnes, Bruce Brown, Immanuel Quickley, Kelly Olynyk and Ja’Kobe Walter were all in street clothes.

Boston came into the game well rested, having not played since beating the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Toronto, on the other hand, was playing less than 24 hours after losing a close game at home to Detroit. The halftime advantage was clear after tip-off, as the Celtics raced to a 14-4 lead within the first four minutes of the game!

The Celtics lived up to their reputation as the most liberal team when it comes to three-point shooting. More than half of the shots they make (52.1%, No. 1 in the NBA) are beyond the arc, but tonight that number was blown out of the water. Boston attempted 61(!) three-pointers and made almost as many three-point field goals (21) as Toronto attempted (23).

The Raptors only trailed 28-26 after one quarter. 15 of the Celtics’ points came from beyond the arc, while 20 of Toronto’s points came in the paint. This would be a recurring theme throughout the match, with Boston raining down shots from outside while Toronto consistently found ways to score inside. The Celtics outscored the Raptors 63-27 on three-pointers, while Toronto outscored Boston 76-42 in points in the paint.

Tatum scored 13 points in the first quarter, but Ochai Agbaji did a great job defensively against the MVP candidate, holding him to 8 points in the remaining three quarters before the game-winner.

The second quarter followed a similar format to the first. Boston followed the crowd’s momentum and occasionally hit threes (“only” three made threes in this quarter), at one point growing the lead back to 8. However, Toronto clawed back with a 9-0 run and regained the lead. pipe. at 45-44. These teams traded haymakers back and forth: Boston from three, Toronto in the paint. There wasn’t much difference between the teams, as the two-point lead Boston enjoyed in the first quarter was still the same at halftime.

Similar to the previous night’s game against the Pistons, the Raptors came out of halftime with renewed purpose and energy. Poeltl scored 8 of Toronto’s 14 points in the first four minutes of the third quarter to help build the Raptors’ largest lead of the night, 68-61. Boston’s Head Coach, Joe Mazzulla, had words for Big Jak.

The teams traded leads several times throughout the third quarter, with Boston holding the smallest lead, 86-85, heading into the fourth.

If you were to judge the two teams based solely on tonight’s performances, and without knowing what their respective records were, it would be shocking to discover that Toronto was 2-11.

Boston and Toronto continued to trade leads like a game of hot potato. After Al Horford – yes, he’s still playing crunch time minutes for the defending champions somehow – hit a three, giving the Celtics a two-point lead with less than two minutes to play. Dick tied the game with an elbow jumper despite excellent defense from Derrick White.

With the score tied at 114, the Raptors had a chance to steal a win in Boston. Poeltl was in his sweet spot in the paint and a ‘smaller’ defender (Tatum) was guarding him. Tatum “successfully pulled the rug out from under Poeltl, forcing the big man to fall and lose the ball out of bounds. With just 22 seconds left, Boston was actually able to hold the ball for the final shot. Tatum was defended very closely (again) and missed a potential game-winning buzzer-beater. FREE BASKETBALL. WE’RE GOING TO OVERTIME!

Toronto was clinging to a one-point lead when Jaylen Brown hit his second triple of overtime to give the hosts a two-point lead. Barrett answered with a driving layup of his own. RJ would have a chance to win the game later. With less than 30 seconds left, Barrett created space on the edge and looked for a potential winner. However, Brown recovered enough to convert the layup attempt, while Neemias Queta slid in to block the shot. Boston recovered the loose ball and with 22 seconds left,

The play design seemed to be that Brown would get a pass from Tatum, but Jaylen’s flop attempt (which worked earlier) was not called. Tatum improvised and took a step back. Game. Celts.

After the match, Tatum was asked about the match winner. especially considering what happened earlier in the match when he missed at the end of regulation time.

“I have many problems in life,” said Tatum. “Trust has never been one of them.”

“I worked too hard on my craft. I’ve played too much basketball to ever doubt the next shot. Whether it’s an in-and-out miss or I miss the whole edge, I know what I’m capable of and you always believe the next one will go in. I know what I am capable of and always believe that the next one will go in.”

With another Raps-Celts game in the books, Toronto now turns its attention to Indiana on Tuesday. Toronto’s two wins have come against Kyle Lowry’s Sixers and DeMar DeRozan’s Kings. Will a date with Pascal Siakam and the Pacers lead to continued success for Toronto?