BOSTON — Jayson Tatum scored 18 of his 23 points in a dominant third quarter Tuesday, and the Boston Celtics routed Toronto 125-71 to extend the Raptors’ losing streak to 11 games.
The Celtics outscored Toronto 45-18 in the third, using an onslaught of 3-pointers to pull away and close out 2024 with a blowout. Boston made 10 of 12 shots from beyond the arc in the third quarter. Tatum hit four 3s, and Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser each hit two as Boston shot 74% for the quarter.
Holiday returned after missing three games because of a right shoulder injury, finishing with 14 points. Payton Pritchard scored 19, Derrick White had 16 and Hauser finished with 12. Jaylen Brown added 12 points and nine rebounds.
Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Jakob Poeltl grabbed 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who went 2-11 in December.
Takeaways
Raptors: Toronto never recovered after committing 12 turnovers in the first half while shooting just 29.5% (13 for 44).
Celtics: Boston led 90-53 by the end of the third quarter and rested its starters in the fourth.
Key moment
After missing their first nine shots and falling behind 6-2 early, back-to-back 3-pointers by White and Holiday midway through the first quarter started an 8-0 run that put Boston in front for good.
Key stat
Boston forced 21 turnovers while committing 13.
Up next
The Raptors are home Wednesday against the Brooklyn Nets. The Celtics open 2025 on Thursday at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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