At their own pace, the Celtics beat the Raptors back-to-back

Traveling to Ontario, after dominating the Nets the day before, in Brooklyn, the best team in the league did the job and more than anything showed that it is at the top of its game. Even without Al Horford and Malcolm Brogdon, or Robert Williams of course.

Disagree Raptorsthey Celtics thus winning their twentieth victory of the season (116-110), needing only a simple boost, carried out in the third quarter (35-18), to reach the shelter and ensure a relatively peaceful end to the match.

As often, it is Jayson Tatum (31 points, 12 rebounds) and Jaylen Brown (22 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists) to guide Boston in victory, to fight a good but alone Pascal Siakam (29 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists) on the side of Toronto.

WHAT YOU SHOULD REMEMBER

— Boston struck after the break. At the end of a very balanced first half, between two almost mirror teams, the Celtics picked up the pace as soon as the third quarter began. Under the impetus of Jaylen Brown (6 points) and Marcus Smart (7 points), but above all Jayson Tatum (17 points), they quickly blew up the Raptors (35-18), they could not resist their physical intensity, their aggressiveness and their address. It’s easy, the Cs don’t force anything and just give the impression of pronouncing their scales, enhanced by all the talents of the wild and active Tatum.

— The “Jay” is in control. Are there still doubts about the identity of the best duo in the league? Certainly not, both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are walking on water this season. Above all, they do this by only very rarely giving an air of superiority to themselves. As if they finally got some under their feet. New illustration tonight when, at the moment it was necessary to speed up or in any case do what was necessary for Boston to stay in touch and then take cover, the Tatum/Brown pair took turns to punish the Canadian defense. Like the third quarter, where the two All-Stars made the difference, in scoring or passing…

TOPS/FLOPS

✅ Pascal Siakam. As a great leader of the Raptors, the Cameroonian held the house of Canada to the best of his ability, putting his team on track in the first period, to give them the advantage at half-time, before he floated after the break. , as the Celtics began to take a lead in Toronto. Aggressive and present in all areas of the game, “Spicy P” did not disappoint and held his rank tonight, unlike any other…

✅ Marcus Smart. The third thief of Celtic’s “Big Three”, the reigning Defender of the Year has been true to himself in defense, sacrificing himself as soon as possible to recover possessions and contribute especially in poor play by Fred VanVleet, in addition to playing the X factor in the attack. Because, with his 18 points and 7 assists on 4/8 on 3-pts, the Boston leader just knows how to take advantage of his balls received on this side of the floor to perfection. Especially in the third quarter where, along with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, he allowed the C’s to stand on the scoreboard, with his various banderillas from distance.

✅ Blake Griffin. Reintroduced and indeed established by Joe Mazzulla, to fill the absence of Al Horford, the six-time All-Star responded and delivered one of his best outings of the season, if not the best: 13 points and 8 rebounds in 32 minutes , 5/6 in shots. Active, combative and efficient, the former interior of the Clippers, Pistons and Nets is very good in the skin of performer luxury and most of all he proved to his coach that he can call it, even on short streaks, when the players ahead of him in Boston’s rotation have recovered.

⛔ Fred VanVleet. 8 points, 7 rebounds and only 3 assists in 38 minutes, 3/14 on shots and 1/6 on 3-pts. So much for the stats of the Raptors point guard, clearly not on his plate right now offensively and who brought down the team’s other All-Star, Pascal Siakam. A failed performance, in all respects, but ultimately like his last seven meetings: 14.6 points and 6.3 assists on average, but on 31% on shots and 24% on 3-pts. It’s no coincidence, then, that Toronto is struggling with its third loss in four games…

THE FOLLOWING

Toronto (12-12) : reception of the Lakers, on the evening of Wednesday to Thursday (01:30).

Boston (20-5) : travel to Phoenix, in the evening from Wednesday to Thursday (04:00).