The Celtics are back in the win column following a 125-117 victory over the Toronto Raptors at TD Garden on Friday night. With the win, Boston improved to 9-4 this season when coming off a loss.
“I like it when we come in the next day, and we can’t tell whether it’s a win or a loss. That, to me, is my favorite,” Joe Mazzulla said on the Celtics’ response to losses this season. “It’s important over the course of the season. If we want to get better, it has to stay that way.”
Payton Pritchard (27 points, eight assists, five rebounds) and Jaylen Brown (25 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) led the way for the Celtics, who trailed for just 49 seconds in the contest.
Ja’Kobe Walter and RJ Barrett scored 19 points apiece for the Raptors, who were without Scottie Barnes, Brandon Ingram, and Jakob Poeltl.
Here are six takeaways as the Celtics improve to 8-2 in their last 10 games and 15-5 in their last 20.
Inside job
The Celtics attempted only 28 three-point attempts, a season low and the second-lowest of the Mazzulla era, making 14 of them. Still, they scored 125 points, shooting 33-of-59 (55.9%) on two-point attempts and getting to the free-throw line, where they made 17-of-19 shots (89.5%).
“At the end of the day, versus the coverages that we’re playing against, we have to take the shots that are there,” Mazzulla said. “But we’re also playing against a team that really pressures, and I thought our speed, especially in the first half, I thought our guys handling the ball did a great job. I thought our bigs did a great job setting screens, but I thought we just combated their pressure by opening up driving lanes and just taking shots that are there.”
Boston shot 20-of-27 (74.1%) in the paint, scoring 62 total points inside. Typically, getting outshot from three — and not getting many attempts up — isn’t a recipe for success, but the Celtics are able to find other ways to win when the game calls for it.
“Every game is going to be different,” Pritchard said. “I felt like we were getting to our spots. Middies. Getting to the rim. If that’s what they’re going to give us, we should take it and shoot it at a high percentage. Then, when we do get open looks, take them and take them confidently.”
Jaylen Brown bounces back
Following Wednesday night’s loss to the Nuggets, Jaylen Brown was left perplexed after attempting just three free throws despite taking 23 two-point shots and being credited with 31 drives, 75% more than his season average.
“For me, every time I get the ball, I’m looking to be aggressive — if I feel contact, I’m gonna go through it,” Brown said after the game. “I’m gonna go strong. But tonight, it just — I just was getting blank faces when I was asking officials.”
It was a different story on Friday night. Brown attempted 13 free throws, the second-most he has taken in a game this season, and made 12 of them (92.3%), tied for the second-most in his career. He led Boston’s downhill attack, attempting 12 of his 15 shots in the paint, including six in the restricted area.
“Night-to-night, things may change. I’ve just got to keep my head on straight,” Brown said. “Don’t let it affect my physicality or the way I play. Don’t let it cloud my vision, thinking about the refs, not thinking about making the right play. So I’ve just got to stay poised.”
Despite the Raptors showing pressure, Brown finished with a very well-rounded 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, drawing praise from Mazzulla after the game.
“I thought he made great reads,” Joe Mazzulla said. “At the end of the day, he’s just got to continue to make the right read against the 2-on-1, which he takes pride in, and he does it consistently.”
Speaking of Jaylen Brown, he opened up after the game
Before the game, Raptors head coach Darko Rajaković noted the strides Jaylen Brown has made handling the ball with his non-dominant left hand.
When asked about Rajaković’s remarks, Brown pointed to the injury he sustained in 2021 and offered new insight into his recovery.
“I never looked at it as a weakness,” Brown said. “I mean, I tore all my ligaments in my wrist in 2021, and I’ve had some procedures and stuff post that, where I’ve had a couple of loose bodies, where I’ve had some chips in my wrist over the last couple of years. One year was in that 2023 [Eastern Conference finals] when we came back down from that series 3-0 [against Miami]. So I’ve had some issues. I don’t usually tell the media or the world about it, but I’ve had some issues with my left wrist. But I’ve always felt like my whole life, I’ve been able to get to my off hand. I’ve dunked on people with my left hand. I’ve never had an issue. But when you have injuries and things like that, you go through bad stretches where, probably, some of those things you guys have seen.”
Brown said modern medicine has helped him get his wrist healthy.
“But I’ve been able to find some modern medicine that’s helped me regain some mobility in my wrist. Sometimes I wake up, and I can feel the weather in my wrist at times. And at times, I wake up, and it feels great. So it’s just one of those things I just have to navigate. But I’ve definitely found some modern medicine that’s helped increase the blood flow and the range. But I’ve had some issues, since 2021 with my wrist. But I like it when people force me to my left. I hope they keep doing it.”
Why did Brown decide to share that information now?
“It’s the age of truth, 2026,” he said. “The Year of the Horse is on its way. It’s a year where truth will emerge, so I’ve been streaming and being more transparent. So he asked me a question, and I gave him an answer. At times that might not have been the case, but that’s the truth.”
The guard trio of Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons, and Derrick White was dominant
Payton Pritchard (27 points, eight assists, five rebounds), Derrick White (18 points, five assists, three rebounds), and Anfernee Simons (15 points, five assists, two rebounds) combined for 60 points, 18 assists, and nine rebounds. Each finished with at least 15 points and five assists.
They’ve put together some strong seasons. After a slow start, Pritchard is now averaging 17.2 points, 5.3 assists, and 4.5 rebounds, while leading the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.53) among qualified players.
“Payton has been ballin’. I think he had a little bit of a slow start, maybe slower than he would’ve liked,” Jaylen Brown said. “But ever since then, we’ve leaned on Payton to almost be like a go-to guy at times, because he has that ability to break guys down, get into the paint, use his body well, and he’s getting better at it.”
Meanwhile, Derrick White is averaging 18.4 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game, while Anfernee Simons has really come into his own in recent weeks. Over his last six games, Simons is averaging 17.7 points (51.4% FG, 57.4% 3PT), 3.7 assists, and 3.2 rebounds. He’s scored at least 15 points in four straight games and in five of those six.
“Anfernee has gotten better since he’s when he first walked into the practice facility until now,” Brown said. “I think he’s a better basketball player in a matter of a few months. He competes on the defensive end. He understands, I think, the game a little bit better as well, like how to play winning basketball. He’s a really talented player. He’s probably more talented than the role he’s in right now, but he comes out, and he has the right mindset and contributes to winning every single night, which I respect the hell out of.”
Sam Hauser’s two-way impact
Sam Hauser, who finished with 19 points on 7-of-10 (70%) shooting from the field and 5-of-7 (71.4%) from three, gave the Celtics a big boost offensively. However, his defense shouldn’t be overlooked.
After the Raptors cut Boston’s lead to six with under five minutes to go, Hauser stole the ball from RJ Barrett and kicked it ahead to Jaylen Brown, leading to an and-one transition bucket. It pushed the Celtics’ lead to three possessions, and it never dropped below that.
“That’s more important than the shots,” Mazzulla said of Hauser’s steal.
Hauser has been an underrated defender this season, and Mazzulla made sure to give him credit after the game.
“RJ Barrett has been playing well. Sam started on him and guarded him almost the entire game,” he said. “I think everyone always sees Sam’s shooting, but his defense is top-notch. He has the ability to focus on a guy and take tendencies away. I thought he was great defensively tonight.”
Luke Kornet was in the house
With the Celtics hosting Kornet’s Spurs on Saturday night, the former Celtics’ big man was in attendance on Friday night, sitting on the baseline closest to the Celtics’ bench.
During stoppages and after the game, Celtics players and staff made their way to the baseline to greet Kornet, who had been a beloved presence in the locker room during his time in Boston.
“Just a great teammate,” Pritchard said, reflecting on his time with Kornet. “A great leader. And he got tremendously better over his time here.”
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