• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Toronto squeezes out 102-101 win over Boston

Nov 22, 2010 - 12:32 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Amir Johnson's two free throws with 2.7 seconds remaining lifted the Toronto Raptors to a 102-101 win over the Boston Celtics at Air Canada Centre.

Paul Pierce missed a potential game-winning shot from the right wing for Boston at the buzzer.

Andrea Bargnani led all scorers with 29 points, while Johnson ended with 17 points and 11 boards for the Raptors, who snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Celtics and have won three straight. Sonny Weems contributed 16 points and Reggie Evans had a game-high 16 rebounds to go with nine points in the win.

Nate Robinson had a team-high 22 points -- 16 in the first quarter -- for Boston, which has dropped two in a row. Ray Allen finished with 19 points and eight rebounds, but had a costly turnover in the late stages of the fourth quarter. Pierce also had 19 points in defeat.

Toronto led 82-75 after three quarters and built its advantage to 12 at 93-81 three minutes into the fourth. However, the Celtics went on a 17-1 run to go in front 98-94. Allen tied things at 94-all with a three-pointer, then hit again from beyond the arc on the Celtics' next possession to give the visitors the lead.

Glen Davis' free throw made it a four-point game with 3:26 left, but Leandro Barbosa's jumper with 2:12 remaining cut the Raptors' deficit to one, 99-98.

Davis was hacked on his way to the basket with 21.3 seconds on the clock and calmly made both at the stripe for a 101-98 Celtics lead.

Weems made a driving layup with 18.8 seconds to play to make it a one-point game. Allen then turned the ball over near midcourt and Johnson was fouled underneath the basket with 2.7 seconds left. After hitting both free throws, Allen inbounded the ball following a Celtics timeout, but Pierce's short jumper was off the mark and Toronto held on for the win.

"When I got fouled I kind of knew I was going to make the free throws, because I was making them all game," Johnson said. "My confidence level was up."

Robinson scored 16 points in the first quarter to help the Celtics grab a 31-23 lead after the opening 12 minutes, but the Raptors fought back to take a 61-58 advantage into halftime.

"I feel like the last couple of games we've beaten ourselves," Pierce said. "We may be the worst second quarter team in all of basketball. We come out, get these leads and give them right away in the second quarter.

Trailing, 72-71, Barbosa's two free throws and a Weems jumper put the Raptors up 75-72 with 3:05 left in the third and they held an 82-75 advantage heading into the fourth.

Game Notes

Jose Calderon had 11 points for Toronto, which shot 44.7 percent from the field...Davis and Kevin Garnett both finished with 12 points for the Celtics, who shot 47.9 percent from the floor.