A back and forth contest that reached high frustration levels and multiple altercations with officials, that did not stop veteran big man Al Horford, who flew into the hoop several times for 21 points and 3 boards to guide the C’s with a 95-94 nail biter over the Toronto Raptors, capturing 12 straight wins.
A historic feat for the group of guys not highlighted with championships, Coach Stevens and company have lots of work to do to continue the season strong, not so much the streak. Horford was the team leader in points with 21, but the impressive stat line with the 6’10 big man is the field goal percentage. Going 8-9 from the field, Horford shot the ball wisely and gave way for better opportunities for his teammates. Alongside Al, Jaylen Brown followed through with 18 points of his own, and fill in starter Marcus Smart scored 14 to go with 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Smart was filling in for the injured Kyrie Irving, who was inadvertently struck in the face by center Aron Baynes on a rebound possession the game before against the Charlotte Hornets. Terry Rozier also gave light to the C’s, dropping 16 points along with being the clock slayer, drilling a critical three pointer at the end of the second quarter and third quarter, that ended up giving the C’s a one point win in the end. Rookie forward Jayson Tatum splashed with 13 points along with some nifty veteran type moves.
One of the highlighted plays throughout the game today was the contribution Celtics point guard Shane Larkin made on the court. Larkin, known for his quick lateral agility and handles, dazzled the crowd with a ridiculous crossover on Raptors veteran CJ Miles. As you can see, Miles was not ready at all and hit the court with full force.
For Toronto, the backcourt tandem of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined for 43 points to help keep up with the C’s for the entire game. A balanced Raptors team, including rookie stud wing player OG Anunoby, stayed in tabs of the deadly C’s, who have now won twelve straight.
Next game for the C’s: Tuesday 11/14 @ Brooklyn
Shane Larkin put C.J. Miles on a Slip 'n Slide pic.twitter.com/dXMBae5Ut0
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 12, 2017
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