Overview
- Boston beat Toronto 115-101 to reach 53-25, leaving a magic number of two to clinch the East’s No. 2 seed.
- Jaylen Brown scored 26 and Jayson Tatum posted 23 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists as the Celtics logged 76 points in the paint, their highest total in the play-by-play era.
- The full roster was available for the first time this season, with Nikola Vucevic returning from right ring finger surgery to record 4 points and 4 rebounds in 13 minutes.
- Coach Joe Mazzulla said 13 minutes was too little to judge Vucevic and noted they still need to learn how opponents will guard him, with depth at center in Neemias Queta and Luka Garza giving rotation options.
- Jaylen Brown praised the season yet said he will not forget parts of the fanbase that wanted to tank after summer salary-dump trades of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis lowered expectations.