Takeaways as Raptors Shock Celtics in Most Impressive Show of Season

Toronto Raptors 110, Boston Celtics 97

That’s what the Raptors have built toward.

For the past two years, the Raptors have emphasized ball movement and playing in rhythm. It’s a style that initially led to plenty of turnover this season as the team worked through growing pains and built chemistry.

On Wednesday, however, something seemed to click. The ball zipped around, players moved fluidly into open spaces, and good looks came naturally. It wasn’t just one player. Everyone shared the workload, playmaking and creating for others in a way Toronto just hasn’t seen this season.

Scottie Barnes was brilliant again with 18 points and nine assists. RJ Barrett showed off his improved playmaking skills with 22 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, including the game-clinching layup that put the Raptors up 14 with less than three minutes left.

Toronto finished the night with 35 assists on 44 made field goals as everyone was involved in the biggest upset of the season so far.

It’s okay to be selfish.

That’s the message the Raptors are trying to instill this season. Nobody wants to play with a ball hog, but if an open shot comes your way: take it.

The Raptors came in Wednesday night second last in the league with three point attempts per game and three points made. That has led to some lopsided results this season, with Toronto struggling to keep up with the league’s best three-point shooting team.

“We have a lot of guys (who) tend to drive the ball more,” Raptors coach Darko Rajaković said Wednesday night. “But (shooting more threes is) something we talk about and we try to embrace it.”

Behind the scenes, the players are just as focused on the message. Jamal Shead revealed Tuesday that he was berated by RJ Barrett for passing up too many open looks.

“There are a lot of situations where we have open shots, open looks. We ask, ‘Am I open enough?’ Then we go into shot fakes and we drive the ball. We have to take open shots and live with them,” Rajaković continued. “Sometimes guys feel like ‘if I take a shot early in the shot clock, it’s going to go out like I’m not going to pass the ball’ or what. We have to be willing.”

Against Boston, Toronto embraced the approach.

Davion Mitchell – one of Toronto’s more reserved three-point shooters – opened the game with a quick three on a kick-out from Scottie Barnes. Moments later, Barnes followed with a transition three of his own. Gradey Dick joined the action soon after, making a quick three as Toronto jumped out to an early double-digit lead.

Boston did its part by coming up with 46 three-pointers Wednesday in classic Celtics fashion. But aside from Payton Pritchard and Kristaps Porziņģis, the Celtics never quite found their rhythm.

A 3-pointer by Shead in the fourth quarter gave Toronto a 14-point lead as the Raptors fended off the Boston shutout.

Ochai Agbaji left in the second quarter with a right hand injury that required three stitches, the Raptors said. He was ruled out for the remainder of the match.

The Raptors will make a quick pit stop in a game on the road in Milwaukee to take on Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks on Friday at 8 p.m. ET