Raptors live and die by the three-pointer
It was all going so well for the Toronto Raptors in the first quarter of their key divisional matchup against the Boston Celtics.
The Toronto Raptors struggled to maintain their early momentum against the Boston Celtics in a divisional matchup on Wednesday, ultimately falling to Boston 98-93. Ja'Kobe Walter led the Raptors with a franchise-record 10 three-pointers in the first quarter, a surge that helped the Raptors build an early lead. However, Toronto's offensive output declined as the game progressed.
The Raptors attempted 43 three-pointers over the course of the game, hitting 16 for a 37 percent success rate. Comparatively, Boston took 40 three-pointers and converted 35 percent of them. Despite the Raptors' early advantage, their shooting efficiency dropped significantly in the second, third, and fourth quarters. Rookie Allen Graves contributed 13 points, including three valuable three-pointers.
The head coach, Darko Rajakovic, emphasized the importance of trusting in open shots and passing, stating that the team needs to make better decisions with these opportunities. The analyst praised the team's effort in defense and transitions but recognized that they faltered in the second half. As the Raptors prepare to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, the team will focus on the upcoming challenge, determined to bounce back from their disappointing loss to Boston.
Written by urgent.news from Global News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
