The Boston Celtics turned a 22-point deficit into a 98-93 win over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, Nov. 11, as Jayson Tatum made the tying and go-ahead free throws with 25.2 seconds left. The road win extended Boston’s winning streak to five games.

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A 16-point burst changed the game

Toronto led 59-37 midway through the second quarter. Boston answered with 16 straight points in roughly two and a half minutes, cutting the gap to seven by halftime. The Celtics took their first lead since the opening minutes at 7:09 of the third quarter, according to the team’s game recap.

The run included an unusual seven-point possession: Tatum made a three-pointer while being fouled, converted the free throw, then Boston kept the ball and Baylor Scheierman added another three. It quickly turned a 22-point hole into a game within reach.

Tatum and Queta delivered late

Tatum finished with 24 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. He went 10-for-12 at the free-throw line and made the two late shots that put Boston ahead for good. Neemias Queta added 11 points and a game-high 13 rebounds; Boston outscored Toronto by 27 points during his minutes on the floor, according to the Celtics’ recap and the NBA scorer’s report.

Toronto’s opening quarter produced 38 points, but the Raptors managed 55 across the final three periods. The shift helps explain how Boston recovered: the comeback followed a long scoring stretch in which Toronto could not maintain its early pace.

What the win means for Boston

The Celtics improved to 10-2 and 4-0 against Atlantic Division opponents. Toronto fell to 5-6. Boston’s five-game run now includes a comeback built on a decisive second-quarter sequence and a close finish in which Tatum’s free throws settled the result.

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Sources

Sources: Associated Press report, published by CBS Boston; NBA official scorer’s report; Boston Celtics game recap.