The Boston Celtics have put a clear exclamation mark ahead of the NBA playoffs.
The traditional team dismantled the defending champion Toronto Raptors, who had previously been so strong in the Orlando bubble, with 122: 100 and won three of four games in 2019/20 against the division rivals.
Nevertheless, Celtics coach Brad Stevens stepped on the euphoria brake: “This game means nothing if we meet them the next time. Our boys played very well. They skipped a few open throws.”
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Theis with double-double for Celtics
Nevertheless, Boston showed that they can be expected in the playoffs of the Eastern Conference. The so highly acclaimed defense of the Raptors was shown in phases. In the end there were 16 threesomes and an impressive throwing rate of 49 percent.
Especially the upcoming top star Jaylen Brown made a fantastic game. With 20 points, he was the top scorer and also reported Toronto’s key player Pascal Siakam (11 points, 5 of 15 from the field).
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“We defended well in the beginning, but nothing went up front. You have to let them know that they were very active and moved well,” said Toronto head coach Nick Nurse.
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In addition to Brown, the German national player Daniel Theis played a double-double with eleven points and eleven rebounds at the Celtics. Jayson Tatum (18 points), Kemba Walker (17) and the former Bamberg-born Brad Wannamaker (15) also impressed in a balanced team, which is one of the title contenders in this form.
Boston (46 wins – 23 defeats) consolidated third place in the east and would currently meet Philadelphia or Indiana in round one. The Raptors (49:19) are second and will probably play against Brooklyn.
With the defeat of the Washington Wizards with the inconspicuous Germans Isaac Bonga and Moritz Wagner against the New Orleans Pelicans – without the phenomenon Zion Williamson – (107: 118) the Orlando Magic booked their playoff ticket. In the east there are no play-in games before the playoffs.
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