BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 09: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket against the Toronto Raptors during the second half at the TD Garden on January 09, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics continued their strong run with a 115-101 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday, powered by a balanced effort and a dominant interior presence. Jaylen Brown led the way with 26 points, while Jayson Tatum added 23 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists as Boston controlled the game late, per Reuters.
After the win, Brown did not overlook the opponent. Instead, he offered a measured and respectful assessment of a Toronto team that pushed Boston through three quarters.
“Toronto’s a good team. They’ve had some injuries. They’ve had some good spurts,” Brown said.
He went further, pointing to the Raptors’ roster depth and physicality.
“They got some players. Brandon Ingram, Scottie, RJ Barrett, Quickley over there, who’s also hurt, Pöltl. They got some good young players. Some of their rookie players’ physical. Good defenders. They got some good players.”
Celtics Lean on Paint Dominance to Pull Away
Boston’s edge came from its ability to attack the rim. The Celtics piled up 76 points in the paint, their highest total in the play-by-play era, showing a clear shift in approach when outside shots did not fall.
“That’s big for us is getting downhill, getting to that paint,” Brown said. “I think that opens up a lot of our 3s.”
Boston shot just 8-for-28 from beyond the arc, yet still created separation by consistently pressuring the interior. Neemias Queta played a major role in that effort, finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Payton Pritchard added 17 and Derrick White chipped in 10.
Queta explained how the offense opened up once Boston broke through Toronto’s perimeter pressure.
“I feel like they’re a team that pressures a lot, so once you get past the main guy, you get an advantage created,” Queta said. “Our mentality was to just attack the paint and get downhill.”
Boston Closes Strong After Tight Battle
The game stayed competitive early. Toronto erased a slow start and battled to a 26-26 tie after the first quarter, then used a second-quarter run to take control briefly. The Raptors even tied the game at 75 late in the third quarter before Boston responded.
The Celtics entered the fourth quarter up 80-77 and quickly created distance. Tatum’s free throws pushed the lead to double digits, and a late sequence from Queta and White sealed the outcome.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla pointed to a stretch in the second quarter as the turning point, Mass Live reports.
“The game opened up for us in the middle of the second quarter, where we were playing really good defense,” Mazzulla said. “Then I thought the whole fourth quarter we played well.”
Toronto received 16 points from Ja’Kobe Walter, while Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each added 15. Despite the loss, the Raptors showed flashes of cohesion, something Brown acknowledged postgame.
Boston improved to 53-25 with the win and continued its dominance over Toronto, especially at home. Still, Brown’s comments reflected a broader understanding of the challenge ahead. Even in victory, he made it clear the Raptors remain a team with talent, depth, and potential to cause problems.
Burtland Dixon Burtland Dixon is a sports journalist covering the NBA and athlete culture for Heavy.com. A former Division II athlete turned journalist, he offers a unique blend of locker room perspective and storytelling expertise. He has more than eight years of experience in digital media and previously served as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with additional bylines at Idolator, Trend Chaser, and Buzznet. Burtland is based between California and New York. Instagram: @showmi_more More about Burtland Dixon
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