There were a lot of things for the Raptors not to like about Wednesday’s 118-102 loss against Boston, but Chris Boucher’s strong play wasn’t one of them. A couple of games after setting a new high with 21 points, Boucher went off for 24, added six rebounds and blocked a couple of shots. With the […]

Boucher shines on Christmas in Raptors loss — Toronto Sun

FINAL SCORE: BOSTON CELTICS 118, TORONTO RAPTORS 102

DATE: DECEMBER 25, 2019 ATTENDANCE: 19,800 (Sellout)

FINAL SCORE RECORD HIGH POINTS HIGH REBOUNDS HIGH ASSISTS

Boston 118 21-7 Brown – 30 Kanter – 11 Hayward/Tatum – 6

Toronto 102 21-10 VanVleet – 27 Ibaka – 8 Lowry – 8

KEY RUN After Toronto scored five straight points to open the fourth quarter, Boston responded with a 6-0 run to push the lead back to 20 with 10:13 remaining … The Celtics led by as many as 22 points late in the game.

KEY STAT Boston out rebounded Toronto 45-34, including 13-7 on the offensive glass … Enes Kanter collected a game-high 11 rebounds … The Celtics had a 24-4 advantage in second-chance points.

RAPTORS NOTES: • With the loss, Toronto falls to 21-10 this season and 13-4 at home … The Raptors have dropped consecutive games (Dec. 23-25) after winning five in a row (Dec. 14-22) … Toronto is now 7-6 in the month of December. • The Raptors’ streak of 34 straight victories at home vs. the Atlantic Division during the regular season has ended … Prior to today, Toronto’s last loss at Scotiabank Arena against an Atlantic Division foe was Nov. 10, 2015 vs. New York. • Fred VanVleet led the Raptors with 27 points in 37 minutes – his second straight 20-point outing and 12th of the season … VanVleet is averaging 24.0 points over the last two games (Dec. 23-25). • Chris Boucher recorded a career-high 24 points (7-10 FG, 3-4 3PT, 7-8 FT) and six rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench … Boucher has two 20-point performances in the last three games (Dec. 22-25), averaging 16.0 points during this stretch. • The Raptors had four players score double figures – VanVleet (27), Boucher (24), Kyle Lowry (14) and Serge Ibaka (12) … Lowry added a team-high eight assists in 37 minutes. • Rookie Terence Davis ll is the only Raptor not to miss a game this season.

CELTICS NOTES: • With the win, Boston improves to 21-7 on the season and 9-6 on the road … The Celtics have won four straight games (Dec. 18-25) and are now 8-2 in December. • Prior to today, the home team had won the previous 12 games between the Raptors and Celtics. • All five starters scored in double figures for Boston, combining for 90 points. • The Celtics shot 50 per cent (46-for-92) from the floor and recorded 26 assists … Boston is a perfect 8-0 this season when they shoot at least .500 from the field. • Brad Stevens is now nine-for-15 in coach’s challenges this season. • Jaylen Brown finished with a game-high 30 points (10-13 FG, 5-7 3PT, 5-6 FT), one shy of his season high, and six rebounds in 35 minutes … Brown scored 30+ points for the third time this season. • The Celtics had six players score in double digits – Brown (30), Kemba Walker (22), Gordon Hayward (14), Enes Kanter (12), Daniel Theis (13) and Jayson Tatum (11) … Kanter added 11 rebounds in 18 minutes off the bench for his second double-double of the season.

INJURY REPORTS AT 5:30 P.M. TUESDAY

12:00 (ET) BOS@TOR

Boston Celtics Fall, Tacko Out G League – Two-Way Hayward, Gordon Probable Injury/Illness – Left Foot; Soreness Poirier, Vincent Out Injury/Illness – Right Pinkie; Fracture Smart, Marcus Out Injury/Illness – Left Eye; Infection Williams III, Robert Out Injury/Illness – Left Hip; Bone Edema.

Toronto Raptors Gasol, Marc Out Injury/Illness – Left Hamstring; Strain Hernandez, Dewan Out Injury/Illness – Right Ankle; Sprain Ponds, Shamorie Out G League – Two-Way Powell, Norman Out Injury/Illness – Left Shoulder; Subluxation Siakam, Pascal Out Injury/Illness – Groin; Strain Thomas, Matt Out Injury/Illness – Left Finger; Middle; fracture – distal phalanx.

RAPTORS NOTES

• The Toronto Raptors host the Boston Celtics at Scotiabank Arena in the first Christmas Day game held outside of the United States. The Raptors are one of five teams that have never hosted a Christmas game joining Charlotte, New Orleans, Minnesota and Memphis. Wednesday’s game is the second of four meetings between the Raptors and Celtics with the next coming Dec. 28 at TD Garden.

• Wednesday marks the second time Toronto has been selected to play on Christmas Day with the lone appearance coming in 2001 at New York. It’s the second-longest active streak between Christmas appearances among teams that have played at least one game. Atlanta has not played a Christmas game since 1989. Charlotte and Memphis are the only team that have never played on Christmas.

• Since 2013-14 when Toronto began a run of six straight playoff appearances, two conference finals appearances and an NBA Championship, a total of 18 different teams have appeared on Christmas Day. Among the 18 teams only Golden State, San Antonio and Houston have posted a better record than Toronto during this stretch.

• Serge Ibaka and Patrick McCaw are the only players on Toronto’s roster that have played a Christmas game. Ibaka has appeared in six consecutive Christmas games (all with Oklahoma City) between 2010-15. His best performance came in 2013 at New York when he scored 24 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field. McCaw played for Golden State in a pair of Christmas games in 2016 and 2017. Toronto is tied with Denver for the fewest players with Christmas Day experience among the 10 teams playing.

• Kyle Lowry will make his Christmas debut after 13 seasons in the NBA. Lowry and Denver’s Paul Millsap (also 13 seasons) are the two longest-serving players in the NBA playing their first Christmas game. He has scored 20+ points in a season-high five straight games (Dec. 16-23), including a team-high 30 points Dec. 23 at Indiana. Over the past five games, Lowry is averaging 25.6 points while shooting .455 (40-for-88) from the field, .422 (19-for-45) from 3-point range and .784 (29-for-37) at the free throw line. The last time Lowry scored 30-or-more points in back-to-back games was part of a career-best four-game streak Jan. 27 – Feb. 1, 2017.

• Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored a season-high 18 points (6-13 FG, 6-5 FT) Dec. 22 vs. Dallas. It was the ninth time this season Hollis-Jefferson has contributed 10+ points as a reserve. Toronto is 8-1 during these games. He ranks third in Raptors bench scoring during the month of December averaging 7.8 points.

• Fred VanVleet has posted a career-high five double-doubles this season. The latest came Dec. 23 at Indiana when he recorded 21 points and 11 assists. In three games since returning from a right knee contusion he is averaging 16.3 points and 6.7 assists.

• December is Toronto’s busiest month of the season with 16 games and includes three back-to-back sets. The Raptors’ 11 games at Scotiabank Arena tie the franchise record for most home games in a calendar month – Toronto also played 11 games at home in March 2016.

PROBABLE STARTERS

F – PATRICK McCAW #22 • Contributed five points (2-5 FG, 1-2 3FG) and two rebounds Dec. 23 at Indiana. • Made first start of the season Dec. 20 vs. Washington and scored a season-high 11 points in 34 minutes. • Missed 17 games (Nov. 6 – Dec. 9) earlier this year following arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.

MIN: 23.0 REB: 1.9 AST: 1.3 STL: 1.2 TO: 1.2 BLK: 0.0 PTS: 4.7

F – OG ANUNOBY #3 • Recorded his third double-double of the year Dec. 23 at Indiana with 15 points and 12 rebounds. • Toronto is 14-3 this season when Anunoby scores 10 or more points (Last: 15 – Dec. 23 at Indiana). • Shooting .500 (28-for-53) from the field over the last five games (Dec. 16-23).

MIN: 30.4 REB: 6.0 AST: 1.7 STL: 1.2 TO: 1.2 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 11.5

C – SERGE IBAKA #9 • Tallied 23 points (11-21 FG), nine rebounds and one block Dec. 23 vs. Dallas at Indiana • Started three games this season (Dec. 20-23) – Led the reserves in scoring a team-high 13 times. • Has scored 20+ points in three of his last four games, averaging 19.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

MIN: 24.1 REB: 7.5 AST: 1.3 STL: 0.5 TO: 1.9 BLK: 1.1 PTS: 13.7

G – KYLE LOWRY #7 • Scored 30 points in back-to-back games for the third time in his career Dec. 23 at Indiana. • Ranks third in franchise history with 112 double-doubles – recorded four this season (last: Dec. 22 vs. Dallas). • Averaging 19.9 points and 8.4 assists in 11 games (Dec. 3-23) since returning from a left thumb injury.

MIN: 38.1 REB: 5.2 AST: 7.6 STL: 1.2 TO: 3.0 BLK: 0.3 PTS: 20.7

G – FRED VANVLEET #23 • Tallied 21 points and matched his season-high with 11 assists Dec. 23 at Indiana. • Returned to the lineup Dec. 20 vs. Washington after missing five games and recorded career-high nine rebounds. • Toronto is 8-3 this season when VanVleet scores 20 or more points (Last: 21 – Dec. 23 at Indiana).

MIN: 36.3 REB: 3.9 AST: 7.0 STL: 1.9 TO: 2.4 BLK: 0.2 PTS: 17.8

INJURY REPORT Marc Gasol (Left hamstring; strain) – Out Dewan Hernandez (Right ankle; sprain) – Out Norman Powell (Left shoulder; subluxation ) – Out Pascal Siakam (Groin; stretch) – Out Matt Thomas (Left middle finger; distal phalanx fracture) – Out

LAST TIME VS. BOSTON GAME 2 – OCTOBER 25, 2019

BOSTON 112, TORONTO 106

BOSTON — Jaylen Brown had 25 points, including a key 3-pointer in the closing minutes, to help the Boston Celtics hold off the Toronto Raptors 112-106 on Friday night. Jayson Tatum finished with 25 points and nine rebounds. Kemba Walker had 22 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. The Celtics shot only 38%, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. They had 109 attempts in the game. Pascal Siakam scored 33 points to lead the Raptors, who went 18 of 36 from the 3-point line. Kyle Lowry finished with 29 points, including six 3-pointers.There were 12 ties and 19 lead changes, with neither team holding more than a seven-point lead.Boston found its shot in the fourth quarter, outscoring Toronto 36-24.The Celtics took a 101 -100 lead on a Grant Williams layup off an assist by Walker.Later, the Celtics were leading 107-106 when Brown hit a 3-pointer with 2:49 to play. Walker struggled from the field for the second straight game, missing his first five field-goal attempts. Coming off a 34-point game in Toronto’s season-opening win over New Orleans on Tuesday, Siakam also started slow. He missed his first four shots and was scoreless in the first period before he got a finger roll to fall just before halftime.

25 CHRIS BOUCHER

Position: Forward Height: 6-10 Weight: 200 College: Oregon Birthday: 1/11/1993 NBA EXP: 2

2019-20 SEASON: • Recorded career highs with 21 points (6-12 FG, 9-12 FT) and four blocks Dec. 22 vs. Dallas; added seven rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes. • Totaled 13 points, a season-high 12 rebounds and a career-best four assists in 25 minutes Nov. 27 vs. New York. • Posted consecutive double-doubles (Nov. 18-20). • Finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds Nov. 20 vs. Orlando. • Recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds, including a career-high seven offensive rebounds, Nov. 18 vs. Charlotte. • Matched then career bests with 15 points (7-11 FG, 1-4 3PT) and three blocks in 24 minutes Nov. 10 at LA Lakers; added two rebounds and a career-high two steals. • DNP three times.

LAST FIVE GAMES

Date Opp. MIN FG-A 3FG-A FT-A REB AST ST BS PTS

Dec. 16 CLE 12:53 2-3 1-1 2-2 5 1 0 0 7

Dec. 18 @DET 06:12 0-2 0-1 2-2 1 0 0 0 2

Dec. 20 WAS 12:48 1-4 0-1 2-2 5 0 0 0 4

Dec. 22 DAL 24:06 6-12 0-1 9-12 7 0 2 4 21

Dec. 23 @IND 13:51 1-3 0-1 3-4 6 0 0 2 5

0 TERENCE DAVIS ll

Position: Guard Height: 6-4 Weight: 205 College: Mississippi Birthday: 5/16/1997 NBA EXP: R

2019-20 SEASON: • Scored in double digits in four-of-five games (Nov. 18-27); averaged 13.4 points. • Scored 15 points and led the team in assists for the first time with five in 29 minutes Nov. 27 vs. New York. • Set career highs with 19 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 3PT, 2-2 FT) and eight rebounds in 27 minutes Nov. 20 vs. Orlando. • Recorded 16 points and a career-best seven assists Nov. 18 vs. Charlotte; scored all 16 points in the fourth quarter. • Totaled five points (2-6 FG, 1-3 3PT) and five rebounds in 15 minutes in NBA debut Oct. 22 vs. New Orleans.

LAST FIVE GAMES

Date Opp. MIN FG-A 3FG-A FT-A REB AST ST BS PTS

Dec. 16 CLE 18:40 2-4 1-2 2-2 2 3 0 0 7

Dec. 18 @DET 12:15 2-4 0-1 0-0 0 3 0 0 4

Dec. 20 WAS 17:46 3-4 2-3 0-0 3 1 0 0 8

Dec. 22 DAL 22:37 2-4 2-3 3-3 5 2 1 0 9

Dec. 23 @IND 19:55 3-9 2-7 0-0 3 2 0 0 8

4 RONDAE HOLLIS-JEFFERSON

Position: Forward Height: 6-7 Weight: 217 College: Arizona Birthday: 1/3/1995 NBA EXP: 4

2019-20 SEASON: • Set season bests with six assists and three blocks Dec. 23 at Indiana. • Scored a season-high 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds Dec. 22 vs. Dallas. • Tied a then season high with 16 points and had 10 rebounds Nov. 25 vs. Philadelphia. • Finished with 15 points and eight rebounds Nov. 18 vs. Charlotte. • Posted first double-double as a Raptor with 16 points and a season-high 11 rebounds in 26 minutes Nov. 13 at Portland. • DNP (left groin soreness) Nov. 8 at New Orleans. • Played four minutes in Raptors debut Oct. 26 at Chicago. • Inactive for the first two games of the season (Oct. 22-25) with left groin soreness. • Inactive three times. DNP five times.

LAST FIVE GAMES

Date Opp. MIN FG-A 3FG-A FT-A REB AST ST BS PTS

Dec. 16 CLE DNP – CD Dec. 18

@DET 13:28 2-4 0-0 1-2 3 1 3 0 5

Dec. 20 WAS 19:05 4-8 1-2 5-6 2 4 0 0 14

Dec. 22 DAL 28:33 6-13 0-0 6-6 9 2 1 0 18

Dec. 23 @IND 37:34 2-3 0-0 4-6 9 6 0 3 8

CELTICS PROBABLE STARTERS

POS No. PLAYER HT WT G GS PPG RPG APG FG% MPG

F 37 Semi Ojeleye 6’6 241 27 4 2.7 2.1 0.4 40.6 15.6

2019-20 NOTABLES: – Scored a season-high 11 points at Sacramento on Nov. 17 behind a career-high-tying three three-pointers – Pulled down a career-high seven rebounds against Miami on Dec. 4 – Swiped a career-high four steals against Cleveland on Dec. 9

F 0 Jayson Tatum 6’8 208 27 27 21.6 7.1 2.8 42.0 34.1 C

2019-20 NOTABLES: – Recorded 21 points and 10 boards in the season opener against Philadelphia on Oct. 23 – Recorded his third double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds against Cleveland on Dec. 9 – Recorded 30 points, six rebounds and a career-high seven assists against New York on Dec. 1 – Hit the game-winner against New York on Nov. 1 – Recorded a career-high 39 points to go along with a season-high 12 rebounds against Charlotte on Dec. 22.

27 Daniel Theis 6’8 245 24 23 6.9 6.3 1.3 51.9 21.6

2019-20 NOTABLES: – Handed out a career-high six assists to go along with a career-high three steals against the LA Clippers on Nov. 20 while also pulling down a career-high seven offensive rebounds – Recorded a season-high 16 points against Philadelphia on Dec. 12 – Set a new career-high with five blocks against Cleveland on Nov. 5

G 7 Jaylen Brown 6’6 220 24 24 19.8 7.0 2.4 50.4 33.6

2019-20 NOTABLES: – Recorded a season-high 31 points on 10-of-20 shooting and 5-of-9 from three against Miami on Dec. 4 – Recorded his third 20/10 game of the season with 22 points and 10 rebounds against Brooklyn on Nov. 27 – Recorded his first 30-point game of the season with 30 points and seven rebounds against San Antonio on Nov. 9

G 8 Kemba Walker 6’0 184 26 26 22.6 4.1 5.4 42.8 32.2

2019-20 NOTABLES: – Made his Celtic debut against Philadelphia on Oct. 23 and recorded 12 points, two rebounds and two assists in 34:15 – Recorded three straight games of 30-plus points from Oct. 26 through Nov. 1 – Recorded 39 points against Brooklyn on Nov. 27 – Netted a season-high 44 points against Indiana on Dec. 11 – Handed out a season-high 11 assists against Detroit on Dec. 20

CELTICS RATTLE OFF 10 STRAIGHT, TIE NBA RECORD TO OPEN SEASON… The Celtics notched their 10th straight win with a 105-100 come from behind victory over the Warriors on Nov. 15…This was their tenth straight win after they had lost the opening night game of the season…According to STATS, the Celtics are just the second team in NBA history to record 10 straight wins after losing their season opener joining the 1979-80 Milwaukee Bucks.

BIG NIGHT FOR HAYWARD IN CLEVELAND… Gordon Hayward tied his career-high with 39 points to go along with seven boards and eight assists against Cleveland on Nov. 5…According to the Elias Sports Bureau Hayward was the first player in the NBA this season to score 20 or more points during a single half on 100% shooting (22P, 9-9 FG in first half)…On the night Hayward finished a perfect 16-for-16 on all of his two point attempts which tied Wilt Chamberlain’s mark for most two-point field goal makes in a game without a miss.

WALKER RECORDED 30+ POINTS, 6+ REBOUNDS AND 4+ ASSISTS IN THREE STRAIGHT… Kemba Walker recorded 33 points, six rebounds and five assists in the close victory over the Knicks on Nov. 1…It marked the third consecutive game that Walker recorded 30 or more points, six or more rebounds and four or more assists…In doing so against the Knicks he became the first Celtic to record those numbers in three straight games since Paul Pierce accomplished the feat in three straight games during the 2002 season (Nov. 22-27).

TATUM RECORDS 20 PTS, 10 REBS IN OPENER… Jayson Tatum recorded 21 points and a team-high 10 rebounds against Philadelphia in the opening game of the 2019-20 season on Oct. 23…It marked just the 30th time in franchise history that a Celtic had recorded at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in the opening game of the season and the first since Brandon Bass recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds against New York on Dec. 25, 2011.