Jayson Tatum's late free throws sealed the Boston Celtics' 98-93 comeback win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night after they bounced back from a 22-point deficit. The win allowed the Celtics to stretch their winning streak to five games, maintaining their dominance in the early stages of the season.
Tatum finished the night with 24 points, Derrick White contributed 19, and Payton Pritchard added 14 points. Neemias Queta was a force under the basket, chipping in with 11 points and 13 rebounds as the Celtics improved to a perfect 4-0 record against Atlantic Division opponents.
Boston's star Paul George was benched due to an illness, just one night after he delivered a headline performance by scoring 36 points in a homecoming victory. Tatum struggled with his efficiency, making 6 of 21 shots and 2 of 11 3-pointers, but he remained clinical at the charity stripe, shooting 10 for 12 from the free-throw line.
Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard missed his ninth game in a row. However, head coach Darko Rajakovic provided a positive update on his injury prior to the game, stating that Leonard is "progressing well" with his individual conditioning program.
Scottie Barnes also missed his third straight game for Toronto, but the team saw the return of Immanuel Quickley, who had been sidelined for the past two games due to a sore right hamstring. Walter finished with 12 points for the Raptors, all coming from long-range.
The Raptors equaled a franchise record for 3-pointers in a single quarter by shooting 10 for 18 from distance during the opening period. The Celtics are scheduled to host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, November 15.
Meanwhile, the Raptors face a challenging road game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, November 12, 2026. With this hard-fought win, the Celtics improved their season record to 10-2.
This result cements their hold on the top spot in the Eastern Conference and ties them with the Los Angeles (L.A.) Lakers as the winningest team in the NBA this season. The comeback serves as a testament to the team's resilience, as overcoming a 22-point deficit on the road is a significant achievement in professional basketball.
The coaching staff expressed satisfaction with the defensive adjustments made in the second half. As the season progresses, both teams will look to manage player health and rotation depth to maintain their competitive edge in a grueling schedule.