Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics

Lowry has 30 points to carry Raptors over Celtics, 113-97

Kyle Lowry scored 30 points, Serge Ibaka had 20 and the Raptors beat Boston 113-97 on Saturday night, snapping the Celtics’ five-game winning streak.

Patrick McCaw and Fred VanVleet each added 18 points for Toronto, which avenged the loss on Christmas and sent Boston to just its second loss in 15 games at home this season.

“I think it was internal. It didn’t sit well with me on Christmas Day,” McCaw said. “We definitely didn’t give it our best effort and I think tonight guys took it personally. It wasn’t talked about. Guys just went out and gave it their all.”

Kemba Walker led the Celtics with 30 points, and Jaylen Brown had 17 after getting consecutive 30-point games for the first time in his career. Brown had a career-high 34 in a win over Cleveland on Friday.

“We beat those guys two times already (this season), and obviously a few days ago on Christmas,” Walker said. “They definitely remembered that, of course. But those are the defending champs. They’ve got a target on their back, you know? They’re the team to beat. They came in like they were the defending champs tonight.”

“I think we just wanted to go out there and kind of compete a little better than we did on Christmas,” Lowry said.

They also were missing center Marc Gasol (left hamstring). All three were injured in the same game, a Dec. 18 win at Detroit.

“Toronto just raised their level of intensity and we weren’t ready to handle it,” Brown said.

The Raptors also had a 12-point lead cut to five late in the third.

Toronto led by 10 after the third and Boston never threatened in the fourth.

McCaw’s 3-pointer made it 109-92.

TIP INS

Raptors: It was the fifth straight game that the trio of Siakam, Powell and Gasol was sidelined. … They shot 71.4 % (15 of 21) in the opening quarter and led by 11 at the break. … Toronto’s loss on Christmas was the first either team had won on the road in 13 tries.

Celtics: Guard Marcus Smart returned after missing eight games with an eye infection that spread to both eyes. He hadn’t played since Dec. 6 and got a loud ovation when he entered midway into the opening quarter. He scored seven points in 23 minutes.

BUZZER BEATERS

Smart hit a 3 from the top of the key at the horn at the end of the first quarter and Walker hit one from the top closing the second.

ROLLER COASTER

Raptors coach Nick Nurse talked about his team’s struggles without some key players the last few games.

THAT’S NEWS TO ME

When Boston coach Brad Stevens was asked about his team being the NBA’s top rebounding club for the month, he paused and said: “Us? Shocker.”

He didn’t have an explanation for the statistic.

“I don’t know, the ball’s bounced our way, I guess,’’ he said. We haven’t changed anything on either side of the floor.”

UP NEXT

Raptors: Host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night.

Celtics: At the Charlotte Hornets on New Year’s Eve afternoon.

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Regular Season Series

BOS leads series 2-1