December 5, 2023

Celtics

Derrick White and Jrue Vacation every made an additional go, and Tatum wound up wide-open on the three-point line.

Jayson Tatum put the ending touches on a stunning and unselfish halftime buzzer beater play. (Picture by Cole Burston/Getty Photographs)
  • Former Celtic Marcus Good out 3-5 weeks with ankle damage, gained’t face Boston on Sunday

  • Jaylen Brown, Kristaps Porzingis obtainable for Celtics Friday evening

After a sluggish begin to Friday’s recreation in Toronto, the Celtics closed out the primary half on a excessive observe.

Not solely did Boston flip a 6-point deficit after one quarter to a 16-point lead after two, however its last sequence of the half was a masterclass in unselfish basketball.

The play began with Jrue Vacation spinning into the lane and faking going up for a layup on the rim. He dished beneath to Derrick White, who jumped within the air and offered a layup try even tougher. Their mixture despatched the Raptors crashing towards the paint to defend the final shot.

White noticed Jayson Tatum huge open past the arc, and there was simply sufficient time on the sport clock for White to feed Tatum for the buzzer-beater.

Loads has been made from Boston’s new star-studded lineup this season, and for good cause. The brand new-look Celtics are early favorites to win the Japanese Convention, and Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid even known as them one of the best group within the NBA.

Friday’s buzzer-beater was an ideal instance of what makes Boston so harmful offensively this season. Three completely different Celtics threatened to attain the ultimate basket of the half, and that didn’t even embody Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis, who’ve proven loads of offensive firepower in their very own proper.

The 2023-24 Celtics group can harm groups in several methods, they usually put that on show for a spotlight play to shut the half.