Rejuvenated Raptors rip depleted Celtics

January 13, 2007|Shira Springer, Globe Staff

Despite sprained knee ligaments and ankles, bruised and sore lower backs, and one left foot stress reaction, the Celtics' injured players were quick to rise from the bench and offer encouragement, instruction, and high-fives to their teammates healthy enough to take the floor at TD Banknorth Garden last night. Between Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak, Brian Scalabrine, Delonte West, and Theo Ratliff, the Celtics were never short on support. For almost three quarters, it seemed the Celtics could will themselves to victory.

But hustle and aggressiveness could not make up for what the Celtics lacked in execution and number of players. Boston dressed nine and started a lineup with an average age of 22 years 81 days. The youth and inexperience showed as the Celtics committed 22 turnovers (leading to 23 points) and shot 40 percent. In the end, those were the numbers that mattered most as the Celtics dropped a 95-86 decision to the Toronto Raptors.

"I was proud of the effort," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "I thought everyone who came in really helped . . . We can get better execution. [Twenty-two] turnovers is way too much for us. We're not good enough offensively to turn the ball over 22 times."

That is especially true with offensive producers Pierce, Szczerbiak, West, and Tony Allen sidelined. While Rajon Rondo (23 points, five assists) and Allan Ray (11 points, all in the first half) did their best to make up for the absences on offense, and Leon Powe (career-high 12 rebounds) tried to do the same on the glass, it was a near-impossible task. Once the Celtics fell behind by double digits late in the third quarter, they could not summon enough offense to make a big comeback.

The Raptors (17-20) pulled away late in the third, closing the quarter with a 16-6 run. There were turnovers and missed shots by Boston, and made 3-pointers by Toronto as the home team fell further and further behind. Andrea Bargnani pushed Toronto ahead for good with a 3-pointer that started the run. Anthony Parker capped it with another 3-pointer as the Raptors took a 67-56 lead with 33.9 seconds remaining in the quarter.

"We weren't playing the way we wanted to," said Toronto's Chris Bosh (27 points, eight rebounds). "Shots weren't falling for us, and in the third quarter we just kind of regrouped. We just looked everybody in the eye. We really needed this game, so we got back together and did the simple things that got us the lead."