The Boston Celtics secured a convincing 112-96 road win over the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night despite missing their top option, Jaylen Brown (illness). The team was carried by a stellar all-around performance from Payton Pritchard and a tremendous contribution from the bench, led by rookie Hugo Gonzalez.
Pritchard’s Excellent All-Around Game
Payton Pritchard delivered one of his best games of the season, finishing with 33 points (13-24 FG), 10 assists, 8 rebounds, and just 1 turnover in 36 minutes. He was the offensive engine, especially in the third quarter where he scored 19 points, showcasing his efficient mid-range and paint shooting.
Bench Unit Makes Decisive Impact
With Derrick White struggling (5-20 FG), the Celtics’ bench stepped up in a major way:
Hugo Gonzalez: The rookie recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, providing active defense. The Celtics outscored the Raptors by 37 points during his 27 minutes on the floor. He now leads all NBA rookies in plus/minus this season.
Luka Garza: Back in the rotation after nearly a month, Garza posted 12 points, 10 rebounds (9 offensive), and was a +22. Coach Joe Mazzulla praised him for “changing the game.”
Anfernee Simons (15 points, +32) and other rookies like Josh Minott and Baylor Scheierman also provided key minutes.
Other Notes
The Celtics (17-11) are now 2-0 in games without Brown this season.
Coach Mazzulla clarified that starter Jordan Walsh’s second-half DNP was due to illness, not performance or disciplinary reasons.
With this win, the Celtics moved back into third place in the Eastern Conference.