Celtics vs. Raptors: Score, Highlights, Reaction from 2017 Regular Season

The Boston Celtics have ridden Isaiah Thomas to fourth-quarter success all season, but the Toronto Raptors controlled the final 12 minutes Friday.

Toronto outscored Boston 33-20 in the fourth on the way to a 107-97 victory at Air Canada Centre. It was the Raptors' third win in four tries against the Celtics this season, which could prove critical down the stretch as they battle with each other, the Washington Wizards and the Atlanta Hawks for the Nos. 2-5 seeds in the Eastern Conference.

The Raptors were without Kyle Lowry because of a sore wrist, per Doug Smith of the Toronto Star, so DeMar DeRozan picked up the slack with 43 points and earned MVP chants from the crowd in the process.

He moved Toronto to 34-24 and spearheaded the offensive attack:

Player	Points	Rebounds	Assists	Field Goals	Steals
DeMar DeRozan	43	5	5	15-of-28	0
Serge Ibaka	15	7	0	7-of-12	1
Cory Joseph	11	1	6	5-of-12	3
P.J. Tucker	9	10	1	2-of-5	3

Boston fell to 37-21, and Thomas could never shake free from the Raptors' defenders even though he leads the league in fourth-quarter scoring, per NBA.com. He scored just four in the final frame on his way to 20 total points, as newcomer P.J. Tucker, Cory Joseph and the other perimeter defenders contained his explosiveness.

Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe said, "It's been a really tough night for Isaiah Thomas. Raptors have swarmed him."

Tucker wasn't the only trade acquisition to make an impact, as Serge Ibaka scored 15 points as a secondary scorer.

Bill Simmons of The Ringer juxtaposed Toronto's trade additions with Boston's decision to stand pat before Thursday's deadline:

While they ultimately found their footing late in the game, the Raptors looked lost early on offense without Lowry and finished the first quarter with 18 points and four turnovers. DeRozan scored 10 early points but took 10 of Toronto's first 20 shots in the give-me-the-ball-without-Lowry-and-watch offense.

Boston countered with 29 first-quarter points and multiple easy looks, and Bruce Arthur of the Toronto Star noted the newcomer wasn't a cure-all for the league's 16th-best defensive rating, per NBA.com:

The Raptors' Lowry-less dysfunction continued early in the second with challenged outside looks and disjointed offense, and Boston built its biggest lead at 43-27 following Thomas' four-point play and Jonas Jerebko's three.

Toronto pulled within single digits with Thomas on the bench, but the 5'9" guard returned and showed the chip on his shoulder by getting in DeMarre Carroll's face after the forward knocked him over in transition:

Dan Favale of Bleacher Report posed a timely question:

The physicality continued when Thomas hit DeRozan high for a flagrant foul, which spurred a 7-0 Toronto run. Boston held a 55-45 halftime lead once the dust settled.

The Raptors' momentum didn't go extinct during intermission, and they started the third quarter with a commanding 23-8 run, highlighted by Ibaka's three to take the lead and DeRozan's and-1. The early struggles were nowhere to be found, as the offense appeared much more fluid with DeRozan generating better looks.

However, Boston closed the third with a 7-0 run to take a 77-74 lead after Marcus Smart's three.

Brian Robb of 98.5 The Sports Hub praised the two-way player's efforts:

That, in theory, set the stage for Thomas as Mr. Fourth Quarter, but the Raptors defense stifled him, forcing turnovers and contested looks for the guard and his teammates.

Toronto's defense kept it close and allowed DeRozan to show off his own fourth-quarter scoring, as the guard sliced through the lane multiple times during an 18-6 run.

Robb noted Boston's leader didn't look like himself:

DeRozan on the other hand did, and his long two with a minute remaining proved to be the most important basket of the game and put the Raptors up five. He wasn't without help down the stretch, as Carroll's three gave Toronto the lead for good with 3:27 remaining, and the overall team defense overwhelmed Thomas down the stretch.

The Celtics never climbed within one possession after DeRozan's jumper, and Toronto earned a critical tiebreaker.

Postgame Reaction

Boston head coach Brad Stevens commented on DeRozan, per the Celtics: "He just goes downhill (against) us. We struggle with that matchup."

Al Horford discussed his team's efforts, per the Celtics: "We need to do a better job handling (Toronto's) pressure. Their guards do a good job getting into the ball."

Lowry talked about whether he was concerned his injury is more than day-to-day, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports: "That's always a possibility. We'll get it taken care of. Hopefully it's nothing serious."

Tucker said of his first game with Toronto in an interview with Sportsnet, "Everybody told me to relax tonight, but that ain't what I do."

What's Next?

The Celtics face the Detroit Pistons on the road Sunday for what could be a close matchup considering Detroit has outscored Boston by a combined one point in the first three matchups this season.

The Raptors are at home against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday after already beating them on the road earlier this season.