Paul Pierce - Celtics Head North Of The Border To Face Raptors

The Boston Celtics might have seen his or her longest winning ability on the season come to a halt about Thursday. But, a vacation north in the border to handle your Toronto Raptors could easily get them returning with track.

Boston noticed its five-game earning streak ceased on Thursday, because the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Celtics, 88-87, within overtime from TD Garden.

Ray Allen paced Boston using 22 points and All-Star source Paul Pierce added eighteen points, seven rebounds plus seven assists. Kevin Garnett submitted twelve points and also twelve boards, nonetheless chance just 2-of-13 from your floor immediately after halftime.

The Celtics failed to buy a level of quality attempt off at the conclusion on the fourth quarter, and also missed several pictures from the final 70 mere seconds associated with overtime.

At the end of regulation, Pierce dribbled along the final seconds in addition to was hounded outdoors the actual arc in advance of moving past in order to Mickael Pietrus having a couple of a few moments left. Pietrus' off-balanced 31-footer was nowhere fast in close proximity to this edge for the reason that buzzer sounded.

"I won't have purchased my own dribble. It form of broke up your engage in when I grabbed my dribble," Pierce admitted.

Pierce's several actually offered Boston your lead, 87-86, along with 1:51 kept around the extra session, though the Celtics resolved to go frigid out of there. Pierce had an opportunity to offer Boston the particular head the later part of however his or her forced 18-footer drew straightener in addition to Allen's put- back ended up being blocked by way of Pau Gasol.

"I what food was in your great situation and also became available associated with nowhere," Allen said.

The Celtics really should be in a position to get back on monitor this evening while they face a Raptors company who has lost some right adventures following a 105-99 setback into the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

DeMar DeRozan paced your Raptors having 25 points, such as 4-of-6 three-point shooting. James Johnson offered 15 things and Kleiza and Leandro Barbosa added 12 and 11, respectively, over regular for Toronto, that displaced for any fifth time period throughout 6 months time will try overall and also dropped in order to 3-7 at your house this season.

"They've got your No. one particular counter inside the NBA throughout scoring. They played hard," claimed Johnson. "They sported a lot of energy."

Toronto goes on that will perform with out suffering a loss legend Andrea Bargnani, who will be sidelined that has a sprained eventually left calf.

Boston overcom the Raptors by 36 things last Wednesday and also has topped them personal training straight times plus in 13 associated with that last 14 meetings. The Celtics in addition have experienced achievement around Toronto, wherever they've received seven connected with eight plus eight in their previous 11.