Fast-starting Celtics out to get a jump on Raptors next
Strong starts have propelled the Boston Celtics to victory in each of their last two games, and they will look to continue that trend against the visiting Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.
The Celtics (52-25) made 11 shots from 3-point range and set a franchise record by scoring 53 points in the first quarter of their 147-129 win at Miami on Wednesday. The 53-point quarter is tied for the second-highest scoring first quarter in NBA regular-season history, trailing only Golden State's 55-point quarter in 2023.
Boston followed that effort by scoring 43 points during the first 12 minutes of Friday's 133-101 win at Milwaukee. The 96 combined points set an NBA record for points scored in consecutive opening quarters.
Center Neemias Queta set the tone for Boston on Friday by collecting 13 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots in the first quarter, when the Celtics built a 21-point lead.
Queta finished the game with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting and 10 rebounds with four blocks.
"It's unbelievable," the Celtics' Jayson Tatum said when asked about Queta's improved play this season. "I couldn't be more proud and happier for Neemy. The way he's seeing the game (and) the leap he's made as a screener, as a passer.
"Somebody we can trust when we throw the ball in the seams, finishing, protecting the rim. He is an NBA starting big man, that's who he is now, and he's only gonna continue to get better."
Boston had six players score in double figures against the Bucks, which was the team's 10th victory by at least 25 points this season. Queta has scored in double digits in four of his last five games.
"Neemy did a great job in his screen reads, and then I thought our guys did a good job finding him, and then he finished or he kicked out for open shots," Boston coach Joe Mazzulla said via NBC Sports Boston. "So, he started that, got Sam (Hauser) some open looks, Jayson and Jaylen (Brown) were distributing, and we got a lot of catch-and-shoot shots."
Toronto rookie Collin Murray-Boyles has been contributing more at the offensive end of the court of late. Murray-Boyles is averaging 8.4 points per game this season, but scored 14 against the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday, a career-high 20 points against the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday and tossed in 19 points when the Raptors (43-34) ended a two-game losing streak by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 128-96 on Friday.
"Just working on my game," Murray-Boyles said. "I feel like that's what's translating into me putting up numbers and stuff like that. Me being effective. ... Obviously I like to be involved in the offense."
Boston is second in the Eastern Conference standings and will enter Sunday's game with a 2 1/2-game lead over the third-place New York Knicks. After Sunday, the Celtics and Knicks will each have four regular season games to play.
Friday's victory over Memphis moved Toronto into a tie for sixth place with the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference but the Raptors were officially seventh via a tiebreaker. The top six teams will avoid the play-in tournament.
"We have somewhere we're trying to get to," Murray-Boyles said following Friday's win. "Trying to get in the playoffs and make a good run, and this is the start of it."