Boston Celtics Defeat Toronto Raptors 115-101 in Regular-Season Game

The Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors 115-101 on Sunday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The game marked the first time this season that Boston had its full roster available, with center Nikola Vucevic returning after missing one month due to a broken right ring finger sustained on March 6.

Coach Joe Mazzulla now has five regular-season games remaining to evaluate the team before the playoffs.

Vucevic played 14 minutes, recording 4 points and 4 rebounds. The Celtics were outscored by 14 points during his time on the court, with his stints described as rusty. Despite this, Boston secured the victory, led by Jaylen Brown with 26 points, Jayson Tatum with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Neemias Queta with 18 points on 9-of-19 shooting and 7 rebounds.

Queta started strongly, scoring three quick baskets to help Boston take a 10-2 lead. He finished the first half with 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting. The Celtics committed four turnovers in the first five minutes, allowing Toronto to erase the early deficit before a 7-0 run by Boston made the score 22-15.

Vucevic entered the game with 4:57 left in the first quarter to a warm ovation. In his initial eight-minute stint, he recorded two bad passes, two fouls, and missed both shot attempts. The Raptors outscored Boston by 15 points during this period, turning a 7-point deficit into a 38-30 lead for Toronto.

After Vucevic exited with 8:43 remaining in the half, Boston stabilized. Queta added two putbacks, and Toronto went nearly five minutes without scoring. With 1:31 left in the half, Queta scored an 8-foot jump hook, helping Boston lead 54-46 at halftime. By that point, the Celtics had committed 10 turnovers and made 5 of 18 three-pointers.

In the third quarter, Boston made 1 of 6 three-pointers and committed five more turnovers. Vucevic's second stint lasted just over three minutes, ending with his fourth foul; the Celtics were outscored by 4 points during this time. Toronto tied the score at 75 before Brown hit a contested three-pointer to give Boston an 80-77 lead entering the fourth quarter.

Payton Pritchard, who had 6 points in the first three quarters, scored 10 points in the opening three minutes of the fourth, including a three-pointer and two layups, plus an assist to Vucevic for a layup. This extended Boston's lead to 96-83. Toronto responded with back-to-back baskets by Brandon Ingram to cut the deficit to 98-91.

Queta then dunked after a Tatum miss, and Derrick White added a three-pointer, initiating a 15-4 run that secured the win. The Celtics finished with 17 turnovers and 8 of 28 three-pointers but maintained control after the early struggles. This matchup served as a potential preview for a first-round playoff series, given both teams' positions in the Eastern Conference standings.

The game highlighted Boston's depth with its full roster intact, though Vucevic's reintegration showed areas for adjustment. The playoffs begin next week, with seeding implications for both teams based on remaining games.