Celtics at Raptors preview: Boston looks to avoid letdown at Toronto

Résumé détaillé

The Celtics will look to extend their winning streak after coming out on top in their showdown against the 76ers.

After rolling past the 76ers in Tuesday night’s showdown in Philadelphia, the Celtics will look to avoid a letdown when they take on the Raptors in Toronto.

While it will mark the second of back-to-back contests, the Celtics should be good to go, as only Jayson Tatum (32 minutes) and Paul George (30:09) played more than 30 minutes against the 76ers, with the starters getting some rest after pulling away early in the fourth quarter.

George, the centerpiece acquired by the Celtics in the Jaylen Brown trade, finished with a game-high 36 points in his return to Philadelphia.

“I’m healthy,” he said on the NBC broadcast after the game. “That was the biggest challenge, the biggest hurdle the first two years I was here in Philly. What I’ve learned is I’m a little bit better with more usage, and that’s no knock to how my opportunities here with Philly. Quite frankly, I wasn’t healthy to take on the workload that I feel I’m at my best at.

“Here in Boston, they gave me an opportunity to come out here and play and be myself. [Boston coach Joe Mazzulla] has integrated me right into the offense and allowed me to just be myself.”

With the victory, the Celtics extended their winning streak to four and moved ahead of Philadelphia for the top record in the Eastern Conference. They will look to stay there and earn another win against an Atantic Division opponent in Toronto.

Stat of the day: The Celtics won 11 of the last 12 meetings with the Raptors.

Notes: Payton Pritchard had 18 points in 29:46 off the bench and finished a team high +26. … The Raptors will be without Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes. Leonard (knee swelling) has missed the last eight games, while Barnes (groin strain) and Immanuel Quickley (hamstring tightness) have been out for the last two. Quickley has been listed as questionable. … After starting the season 2-0, Toronto has gone 3-5 without Leonard in the lineup.

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