Raptors 114, Celtics 90
TORONTO -- A massive third quarter by the Toronto Raptors propelled them to a 114-90 blowout victory over the Boston Celtics in the final game of the regular season for both teams.
The Raptors outscored the Celtics 37-21 in the third after having a 10-point lead at halftime. The onslaught included eight 3-pointers, and DeMar DeRozan scored 15 of his game-high 24 points in the third.
Boston's Jeff Green had opened the scoring in the second half with a jumper but the Raptors responded with a 13-0 run.
Jordan Crawford led the way for Boston with 16 points. The Celtics were playing without rested players Kevin Gernett and Jason Terry and they also missed Shavlik Randolph for the second half because he had a sore back.
While the Raptors ended a sixth straight season without the playoffs, they closed the season in style, drawing a standing ovation from the home crowd who perhaps feel some optimism that Toronto ended the season on a five-game winning streak.
Boston, meanwhile, already had seventh place in the Eastern Conference secured and mainly wanted to avoid injuries heading into the post-season.
Boston scored the first basket of the second quarter to take the lead by one but the Raptors controlled the rest of the quarter.
An 8-0 run put the Raptors up by nine near the halfway mark of the quarter at 46-37. Terrence Williams ended the run with a layup with 5:40 remaining.
Toronto's lead got as high as 14 points before Boston scored the final four points of the half to reduce the deficit to 59-49 at halftime.
The teams traded the lead and had three ties in the opening four minutes. Eventually Rudy Gay hit a 3-pointer with just over three minutes remaining to put the Raptors up by seven points.
But the Celtics chipped away and Crawford's buzzer-beater from close to half-court brought the Celtics back to one point at 31-30.
NOTES: Wednesday's game was the Celtics' first since the bombing at the Boston Marathon on Monday. Both teams congregated at the center of the court for a moment of silence prior to the game. ... Raptors coach Dwane Casey prefaced his pregame news conference by saying a few words of support to the city of Boston after the incident. "My condolences and the organization's condolences go out to their city and fans," said Casey. "It's sad when the world is that way, but the good thing about sports is hopefully you can forget evil and bad-doers and come together in sports." ... Andrea Bargnani (right elbow) and Terrence Ross (left ankle) were unavailable for Toronto. Rajon Rondo (right knee) and Jared Sullinger (back) were out for the Celtics. ... The Celtics were looking to clinch a sweep of the season series between the clubs. Boston won the previous three meetings.
