Scottie Barnes puts up 25 as Raptors rout Celtics
Scottie Barnes #4 of the Toronto Raptors looks on during the Celtics home opener at TD Garden on October 22, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images/AFP
Scottie Barnes scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in his second NBA game, Gary Trent Jr. added 20 points and the Toronto Raptors spoiled the home opener of the Boston Celtics with a 115-83 win on Friday night.
Barnes, who was selected No. 4 overall out of Florida State in this year’s draft, shot 11-for-17 from the field in 35 minutes. Barnes and Raptors guard Fred VanVleet each had a team-high 12 points in Toronto’s 98-83 home loss to the Washington Wizards in its season opener Wednesday.
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Precious Achiuwa added 15 points and 15 boards, OG Anunoby scored 14, Chris Boucher had 11 and VanVleet finished with 11 points and nine assists for the Raptors, who have begun the season without star Pascal Siakam as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery.
Jayson Tatum tallied 18 points to lead the Celtics. Jaylen Brown, after scoring a career-high 46 in Boston’s season-opening, 138-134 double-overtime loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday, was held to nine points on 3-of-13 shooting vs. Toronto.
Al Horford had 11 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks in his season debut after being reacquired by the Celtics in an offseason trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Horford spent three seasons with Boston from 2016 to 2019.
Horford missed Boston’s season opener in New York due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols following a positive COVID-19 test. Newly acquired Josh Richardson had 12 points in his Celtics debut after missing the opener due to a migraine.
Toronto led 51-47 at halftime and used a big third quarter to pull away, outscoring the hosts 32-17. Horford’s jumper at 10:08 of the fourth brought Boston within 15 points, but the Celtics got no closer.
Richardson’s 3-pointer gave Boston its biggest lead at 20-12 with 2:48 to play in the opening quarter. Toronto ended the period on an 11-3 run and took the lead for good on Barnes’ 15-foot pull-up jumper with 9:13 left in the second period.
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