Celtics beat Raptors 115-101

The Boston Celtics leaned on their stars and a decisive fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Toronto Raptors, securing a 115–101 win Sunday night.

Jaylen Brown led the way with 26 points, while Jayson Tatum delivered a strong all-around performance with 23 points and 13 rebounds as Boston notched its third straight victory, tightening its grip on the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Boston’s depth made the difference. Neemias Queta added 18 points and seven rebounds, and Payton Pritchard chipped in 17 points, including a momentum-shifting three-pointer early in the fourth quarter that helped spark the Boston's run.

For Toronto, Ja’Kobe Walter paced the scoring with 16 points, while Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett each contributed 15. But the Raptors couldn’t keep up late, undone by turnovers and defensive lapses in a 35–24 fourth quarter that swung the game decisively in Boston’s favor.

The Celtics welcomed back Nikola Vucevic, who returned after a month-long absence following finger surgery. He showed signs of rust, finishing with four points and four rebounds in limited minutes.

After a slow start that saw Boston struggle from deep and the teams deadlocked at 26 after one quarter, the game remained tight into the final period. The Celtics held just a three-point edge entering the fourth before unleashing a 16–6 run to create separation. Brown took over down the stretch, scoring multiple key baskets—including a hustle putback after his own missed free throw—to seal the win.

The Raptors, who entered the night fresh off a 32-point blowout of Memphis, couldn’t replicate that momentum as they continue battling for a top-six playoff spot.

Up next: Toronto returns home to face Miami on Tuesday, while Boston hosts Charlotte as it looks to keep its winning streak rolling.