Celtics wrap up East No. 2 seed with 97-93 win over Raptors

BOSTON (AP) — Malcolm Brogdon scored 29 pointsand hit two late free throws to help the Boston Celtics hold on fora 97-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

With Milwaukee’s win over Chicago, Boston (55-25) secured theNo. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Jaylen Brown added 25 points and 11 rebounds. Derrick Whitefinished with 17 points in the opener of a two-game series. Theteams meet again Friday in Boston.

A night after their two-point loss at Philadelphia, the Celticsplayed without three starters. All-Star Jayson Tatum (bruised lefthip), Marcus Smart (neck spasms) and Al Horford (back stiffness)all got the night off on the second night of the back-to-back.

The Raptors (40-40) fell a game behind eighth-place Atlanta(41-39) in the standings. Pascal Siakam had 18 points and 11rebounds. Scottie Barnes added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Toronto went just 6 of 33 from beyond the arc. Boston didn’tshoot much better (11 of 38).

Siakam scored 14 straight for Toronto to help the Raptors trimwhat had been a 13-point deficit to 74-72 late in the thirdquarter.

Brogdon scored the final five points of the period to giveBoston a seven-point cushion heading into the fourth.

Toronto kept chipping away and used an 8-1 run to tie the gameat 82, before the Celtics responded with five straight points.

A dunk by Precious Achiuwa got Toronto within 89-86. Bostonanswered again, this time with a 6-2 spurt to get it back to sixwith a minute to play.

Boston ran the clock down, but Brogdon’s turnover led to aRaptors fast break and dunk by Achiuwa, who was fouled. Hecompleted the three-point play to make it 95-93 with 12.6 secondsleft.

Brogdon was fouled on the ensuing inbounds pass and hit bothfree throws.

TIP-INS

Raptors: Went 2 for 18 from 3-point line in the first half. …Siakam had 12 first-quarter points, but was held scoreless in thesecond quarter.

Celtics: Brown was awarded the Red Auerbach Award, givenannually by the franchise to the player who “best exemplifies thespirit and meaning of what it means to be a BostonCeltic.”