Boston Celtics defeat Toronto Raptors, 103-96

Ray Allen scored 23 points, Rasheed Wallace added 16 and the Boston Celtics beat the Toronto Raptors 103-96 on Saturday night despite missing three starters because of injuries.

The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Boston and ended the Raptors' season-high five-game winning streak.

Paul Pierce missed his fifth straight game after having a pair of minor surgical procedures for an infection in his right knee, Garnett was sidelined for his second consecu...

The plan was to turn algebra into ordinary arithmetic. There were too many new players in too many new roles.

J.R. Giddens, who was making his first NBA start, was swinging between shooting guard and small forward. Tony Allen, who returned to the lineup in mid-December, suddenly had to man the point guard and small forward spots. Ray Allen, the lone member of the Big Three who was injury-free, had to learn the small forward spots and take over some of the duties of brin...

The Celtics’ makeshift lineup last night raised some basic questions, the main one being: Who was going to bring the ball upcourt?

Tony Allen was the designated point guard, in the absence of Rajon Rondo (left hamstring strain). But several other Celtics took a turn dribbling out of the backcourt, a sort of point-guard-by-committee plan effective enough to produce a 103-96 win over Toronto.

Even center Kendrick Perkins had his chance, loping over the halfcourt line, ...