The Boston Celtics beat the Toronto Raptors 102-99 on Tuesday, leaving the reigning NBA champions in serious trouble in their Eastern Conference semi-final series.
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Jayson Tatum scored 34 points, Marcus Smart made five three-pointers in the fourth quarter as the Celtics took a 2-0 lead in the series.
It was the Celtics' third successive win over the Raptors since the NBA's restart bubble and are 5-1 for the season against the title-holders.
Smart scored 19 points, Kemba Walker had 17 and Jaylen Brown scored 16 for the Celtics.
OG Anunoby had 20 points for Toronto while Fred VanFleet, who missed a 28-footer as time expired, posted 19 points. Serge Ibaka and Pascal Siakam scored 17 points apiece and Kyle Lowry added 16.
Smart made three three-pointers on three consecutive possessions in a 73-second span early in the fourth, then added another three about a minute later - and a four-point play a minute after that, putting Boston up 86-85 with 7:55 left.
It was part of a 29-9 run by Boston, with the Celtics going up 95-87 with 4:18 left.
The Raptors finally seemed to have figured out a way late in the third quarter, taking a 12-point lead, after the momentum seemed like it had swung on an overturned call that correctly went Toronto's way.
A layup by VanVleet, followed by a free throw from Siakam after officials reversed a call that he fouled Smart, gave Toronto a 78-66 lead with 2:46 left in the third.
The Raptors scored only nine points in the next 10:39, but just when things looked like they had gone totally awry, Toronto scored five straight to make it a 95-92 game with 3:35 left.
The Raptors got within one on a pair of free throws from Lowry with 1:01 remaining.
But Walker hit a stepback on the next Boston possession and the Celtics held on from there.
Australian Associated Press
