Celtics Cruise Past Raptors Behind Jaylen Brown's Big Night

Boston star scores 32 points as Celtics strengthen hold on top seed in East

Apr. 5, 2026 at 4:32pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game between the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors, with the players' forms broken down into abstract geometric shapes and planes of vibrant green, purple, and gold colors.Jaylen Brown's dominant performance propels the Celtics to a crucial victory over the Raptors as the playoff race heats up in the East.Boston Today

The Boston Celtics continued their strong play at home, defeating the Toronto Raptors 117-104 behind a 32-point performance from Jaylen Brown. The win keeps the Celtics firmly in control of the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings.

Why it matters

The Celtics are emerging as the team to beat in the East, and this victory over a fellow playoff contender further solidifies their status as a title favorite. Meanwhile, the loss leaves the Raptors in a precarious position as they fight to secure a spot in the postseason Play-In tournament.

The details

Jaylen Brown was dominant, shooting 11-of-20 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. Derrick White also had a strong game for the Celtics, knocking down 4 three-pointers. The Raptors struggled to contain Boston's offense, which shot 51% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc.

  • The Celtics improved to 51-26 on the season with the win.
  • The Raptors dropped to 41-36, putting them in a tie for 9th place in the East.

The players

Jaylen Brown

A 26-year-old All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics who is having a career year, averaging 28.7 points per game.

Derrick White

A 28-year-old guard for the Boston Celtics who provides valuable shooting and playmaking off the bench.

Toronto Raptors

An NBA franchise based in Toronto, Canada that has been a consistent playoff contender in recent years.

Boston Celtics

An NBA franchise based in Boston, Massachusetts that is one of the league's most successful and historic franchises, with 17 NBA championships.

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What they’re saying

“Jaylen has been playing at an MVP level all season, and tonight was another example of how dominant he can be. When he's attacking the rim and knocking down shots, we're a very tough team to beat.”

— Joe Mazzulla, Head Coach, Boston Celtics

What’s next

The Celtics will look to continue their strong play at home when they host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday. The Raptors will try to bounce back on the road against the Miami Heat on Tuesday.

The takeaway

The Celtics are solidifying their status as the team to beat in the East, with Jaylen Brown leading the charge. Meanwhile, the Raptors are in a precarious position as they fight to secure a spot in the postseason Play-In tournament.