Why Jayson Tatum and Boston Celtics were extra motivated against the Raptors

The Boston Celtics took revenge of their January 15th loss to the Toronto Raptors with a 111-101 victory in Toronto on Tuesday night. This win, which marked their sixth consecutive victory, secured the season series against the Raptors with a 3-1 record. Despite the Raptors' 18-40 record and their position in 13th place in the Eastern Conference, this win held significant meaning for the reigning NBA champions.

A motivated Boston Celtics team against the Toronto Raptors

The Boston Celtics were clearly driven by a desire to bounce back after a tough loss to the Raptors earlier in the season. Following that game, Toronto celebrated their victory with enthusiasm, which didn’t sit well with the Celtics.

As star player Jayson Tatum explained after the game,

We wanted this one. Last time, they celebrated and [expletive] when they beat us, that’s to be expected, came here with a chip on our shoulders and found a way to win this game.

Along with his teammates, Tatum brought a level of intensity to the match against the Toronto. The six-time All-Star finished the game with 19 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds. Tatum's playmaking stood out in the first half, as he recorded nine assists before halftime, guiding the Celtics through a dominant performance.

Boston Celtics win against Toronto Raptors: Derrick White and the headband moment

Tatum wasn’t alone in his efforts. Teammate Derrick White had a standout game, registering 22 points, six of which came from a perfect 6-for-11 from beyond the arc. White also recorded five assists, three rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. In a playful, yet symbolic gesture, both Tatum and White wore headbands during the game, a decision made by Tatum himself.

Yeah, it was my call, Tatum said, referencing their shared tradition. We had an agreement that whenever one of us said we gotta wear a headband, we gotta do it. It was supposed to take turns. We did it in Atlanta earlier in the season. I waited 40 some odd games for him to say it, so I took the responsibility from him and was just like, ‘[expletive] it, we’ll wear the headband today.’

Despite missing key players like Jrue Holiday (rest), Kristaps Porzingis (illness), Al Horford (left big toe sprain), and Luke Kornet (personal reasons), the Celtics' depth proved crucial in their win against the Raptors. Payton Pritchard stepped up with 20 points, Neemias Queta added eight points and five rebounds, and Jordan Walsh, JD Davison, and rookie Baylor Scheierman all contributed valuable minutes off the bench.

With the win, the Celtics (42-16) have now claimed 10 victories in their last 11 games. They will look to extend their winning streak to seven when they face the Detroit Pistons, who are on a seven-game winning streak of their own, on Wednesday night.