{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Boston 95, Toronto 93
When: 7:30 PM ET, Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #20 Leroy Richardson, #44 Eli Roe
Attendance: 18624

BOSTON -- Forward Jae Crowder sank a fadeaway jumper over a pair of Toronto Raptors defenders from the corner with 0.8 seconds left, helping the playoff-bound Boston Celtics lock up the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a 95-93 win Tuesday at TD Garden.

Boston (39-42) clinched a playoff spot after a Brooklyn Nets loss Monday. It is the Celtics' first postseason appearance since they traded forwards Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets in 2013 and their first without Pierce on the roster since 1994-95.

Guard/forward Evan Turner had 14 points and nine assists, and guard Avery Bradley, who sustained a left quad contusion during the game, scored 14 to lead the Celtics. Forward Brandon Bass contributed 13 points and nine rebounds, center/forward Tyler Zeller scored 12, and guard Isaiah Thomas chipped in 11 points off the bench.

Boston was limited to 38.4 percent shooting in the victory, while Toronto shot 43.8 percent.

The Raptors (48-33) remain one win shy of a setting a franchise single-season record.

Guard Lou Williams gave the Raptors a spark off the bench, knocking down 10 of 11 free throws to finish with 16 points. All-Star guard Kyle Lowry had 16 points, six rebounds and four assists.

After trading leads for most of the fourth quarter, Boston and Toronto entered the final minute tied at 89.

Thomas had his driving layup attempt blocked out of bounds with just under 40 ticks remaining. Turner took the inbounds pass on the ensuing play and hit a leaner from the corner to give the Celtics a 91-89 advantage with 35.2 seconds left.

Following a Toronto timeout, Lowry took the ball near the top of the arc and drove into the lane for a game-tying layup with 31.1 seconds to go.

Zeller's lay-in after a couple of Celtics misses on put Boston back in control, 93-91, with 14 seconds remaining.

Lowry came up big on the other end again, barreling in for another game-tying layup to make it 93-all with 10.2 left.

The Raptors built their lead to as many as 15 points in the first half before settling for a 53-46 advantage entering halftime.

The Celtics battled back to tie the game and take the lead on a pair of free throws from Zeller with 5:07 to play in the third. Boston stretched the lead to five late in the frame before Toronto pulled within 73-70 heading into the closing period.

NOTES: Tuesday marked the 50th anniversary of Celtics' all-time leading scorer John Havlicek's iconic steal in the 1965 Eastern Conference Finals, as well as Johnny Most's legendary call of the play. Havlicek was honored with a ceremony and a standing ovation at the end of the first quarter. ... After clinching a playoff spot Monday, second-year Boston coach Brad Stevens is set to make his NBA Playoffs debut. "It's nice, you answer your text messages, and you move on," Stevens said. ... Stevens didn't rest any players Tuesday, but said he will consider doing so in Wednesday's regular season finale. ... Toronto G Kyle Lowry (back) played in his third game back after a seven-game absence. "He's where we thought he was going to be," Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. ... F Amir Johnson (ankle) returned for Toronto after a four-game hiatus. F DeMar DeRozan (rest) did not play.
Top Game Performances
 
Toronto   Boston
Kyle Lowry 16 Scoring Avery Bradley 14
Greivis Vasquez 7 Assists Evan Turner 9
Amir Johnson 8 Rebounds Brandon Bass 9
Lou Williams 10 Free Throws Made Brandon Bass 5
Tyler Hansbrough 2 Steals Jae Crowder 2
Amir Johnson 2 Blocks Marcus Smart 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Toronto 93 43.8 9-24 14-20 17 43 9 9 20
Boston 95 38.4 6-27 13-15 24 50 6 7 14
Upcoming Games
  • Boston will play their next game on the road against Milwaukee. The Celtics have a W/L % of .538 after a win and .429 after a loss.
  • Toronto will play their next game at home against Charlotte. The Raptors have a W/L % of .633 after a win and .531 after a loss.