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Raptors pick up rare win in Boston

Mar 27, 2014 - 3:48 AM Boston, MA (SportsNetwork.com) - Three Toronto players scored at least 20 points and the Raptors held off the Boston Celtics, 99-90, on Wednesday at TD Garden.

Terrence Ross netted 24 points to pace the Raptors, while Kyle Lowry posted 23 points with nine rebounds and DeMar DeRozan scored 20. DeRozan made 10-of-11 from the free throw line, with Toronto making 16-of-18 as a team.

Jonas Valanciunas added 15 points and 14 boards as the Raptors broke an 11- game losing streak to the C's in Boston, winning there for the first time since 2008.

"That was a character test for us," said Toronto head coach Dwane Casey. "I think this team has a lot of character. Situations were not there yet, but again its not from a lack of fight and togetherness."

Rajon Rondo handed out 15 assists for the Celtics, losers in seven of eight, and Jared Sullinger poured in a game-high 26 points off the bench.

Rondo had a hand in Boston's first eight baskets, converting a pair of scoop layups to go along with six assists. Jeff Green finally scored back-to-back buckets unassisted late in the period, but Toronto led 31-22 through 12 minutes after scoring on 8-of-9 possessions to close the frame.

The early portion of the second belonged to Rondo as well. The veteran assisted on three straight baskets to pull Boston within three, then scored a layup and set up a Sullinger triple to boost the C's to a 35-33 lead. Sullinger's shot gave Rondo 10 assists just 14 minutes and 26 seconds into the contest.

"Sully (Sullinger) got hot and I thought even though we were really undersized we played pretty well in that time," said Boston head coach Brad Stevens.

Toronto finished the half strong, turning a 39-39 tie into a 55-46 halftime advantage.

Lowry hit 3-pointers on each of Toronto's first two possessions of the third quarter for the largest lead of the game. The margin dipped down to eight on a Kelly Olynyk layup at 3:13 of the frame, but Ross beat the buzzer with a 3- ball to restore a 15-point edge at 77-62.

Sullinger pulled Boston back within four, 88-84, hitting three 3-pointers over a 1:37 stretch midway through the fourth. Chris Johnson's layup from Rondo made it 93-90 with under two minutes remaining, but the Celtics missed their last four shots and Lowry and Ross hit treys to result in the final outcome.

Game Notes

The two teams meet again in Toronto on Friday ... The Raptors lead the season series, 2-1 ... Toronto outscored Boston 40-28 in the paint and won the rebounding battle, 48-36 ... Avery Bradley and Johnson had 16 and 13 points, respectively, for the Celtics.