| |
|
NBA -- Celtics show fight, might as contenders
By Ricardo Carbajal PhilBoxing.com Tue, 01 Sep 2020

LOS ANGELES -- The Boston Celtics demonstrated the firepower befitting a legitimate title contender.
Jayson Tatum finished with 21 points and nine rebounds and all of Boston's starters chalked double-figures in points to easily handle the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the Easter Conference Finals played inside the NBA bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Buena Vista, Florida.
Kemba Walker added 18 and 10 assists and Marcus Smart tallied 21 for the No.3 seeded Celtics. Jaylen Brown pumped in 17 while center Daniel Theis accounted for 13 points and 15 boards.
Fresh off their four-game sweep of the Sixers in Round 1, the Cetlics didn't skip a beat, shooting 47 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from long distance. They started hot and hit their baskets early and often to take a 36-17 lead late in the first quarter.
The Raptors, the defending champs and this year's No.2 seed in the East, never recovered from the fiery barrage.
As impressive the win was, Celtics coach Brad Stevens cautioned that it's a long series, a race to win four out of seven.
"We're not even in the ballpark of doing that yet. We won one game," Stevens, who just signed a contract extension with Boston, told The Associated Press.
Boston, which finished the regular season at 48-24, is missing the services of Gordon Hayward, who is rehabbing from an injured ankle. But their performance in Game 1 showed that they have enough weapons to beat the championship savvy Raptors.
Kyle Lowry led Toronto with 17 points and six rebounds.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ricardo Carbajal.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI OPEN WORKOUTS COMPLETE AS UNDISPUTED KING INOUE GETS READY FOR PICASSO CLASH IN RIYADH , Thu, 25 Dec 20253-Time, 2-Division World Champion & IBF No. 1, Mandatory Bantamweight World Title Challenger Miyo Yoshida long overdue for her 8th World title fight , Thu, 25 Dec 2025Game On! 1st Paower Pickleball Cup Ignites Action in San Fernando By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 25 Dec 2025Late Replacement Tellez Ready to Shock the World Against Amanda Serrano for WBA & WBO Featherweight Titles on January 3 in Puerto Rico , Wed, 24 Dec 2025The Pryce is right again! , Wed, 24 Dec 2025Postal Stamp Honoring Muhammad Ali will be present in January 15 By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 24 Dec 2025O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SIGNS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING , Wed, 24 Dec 2025Isabela Chess University Wins Region 2 Chess League Title By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 24 Dec 2025Cristobal stops Beltran in the 6th round By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025VENUE/DATE CHANGE: Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN TRENTON , Tue, 23 Dec 2025Raquinel suffers 2nd setback in SA By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025Oakland Municipal Auditorium: Sacred Hall Where Filipino Boxing World Champions Were Crowned By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 23 Dec 2025IBA confirms Men’s World Boxing Championships results , Tue, 23 Dec 2025Jordan Launches Pro Boxing Scene Appointing Amer Abdallah as Advisor , Tue, 23 Dec 2025Fisher and Atencio Crowned Jax Mixed Doubles Open Champions , Sun, 21 Dec 2025Jake Paul Undergoes Surgery for Broken Jaw Following Knockout Loss to Anthony Joshua By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 21 Dec 2025Anthony Joshua Drops Jake Paul 4 Times En Route to a 6th Round Stoppage By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 20 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Hails RP Blu Boys’ Golden Triumph at the SEA Games By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 20 Dec 2025ACCRA WEIGH-IN RESULTS: RICHARDS AND AZEEZ PREPARE FOR HISTORIC CLASH , Sat, 20 Dec 2025Two USA Boxing Junior National Champions Invited to Attend Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Bout Friday in Miami , Sat, 20 Dec 2025Ramon Cardenas Scores One Punch Knockout Over Erik Robles in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series , Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Jig Is Up By Chris Carlson, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025January 31: Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Confirmed as Co-Feature to Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan , Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami By Dong Secuya, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025Suelo rules Thailand chess tourney By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Dec 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|