(Toronto) Pascal Siakam was dazzling with 40 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Boston Celtics 115-112 in overtime on Monday.
Updated yesterday at 10:44 p.m.
Siakam scored at least 40 points for the fourth time in his career, helping the Raptors earn their third straight win.
The Cameroonian also provided 13 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
In overtime, Toronto (43-32) lost 110-109 when Siakam signed a basket with his fingertips, putting his agility to good use.
He made a block and added a basket, before Boston closed the gap with free throws from Grant Williams.
Opponent’s Derrick White failed to convert a breakthrough; Thaddeus Young grabbed a crucial rebound and then Gary Trent went for free throws for the final count – materialized after Marcus Smart and Williams each missed a shot that would have created the stalemate.
OG Anunoby (14), Fred VanVleet (14), Trent (12), Young (12) and Scottie Barnes (10) are the other Raptors players who hit double digits in points.
VanVleet and Trent also got three flights each.
Trent was returning to action after a big toe injury in his left foot. He missed three games.
Khem Birch missed the game with a bad right knee.
Smart led the team with 28 points, 11 more than Williams.
The Raptors have the same record as the Bulls, but Chicago holds fifth place thanks to a positive record against the Canadian club.
Sixth in the East, Toronto is one game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Raptors will play Wednesday at home against Minnesota.
The Celtics were without their top two scorers, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
They were also without rebounding and blocking leader Robert Williams.
Tatum and Brown have stiff right knees, while Williams has torn cartilage in her left knee.
Al Horford was also missing on Monday for personal reasons.
Williams leads the team with 9.6 rebounds and sits second in the league with 2.2 blocks per game, on average.
He averaged 10 points per game.
Boston (47-29) is battling Miami, Milwaukee and Philadelphia to earn the top spot in the East.
The Celtics will provide an update on Williams later in the week.
The type of injury he has often requires a rehabilitation period of nearly two months.