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First impressions from afar after the Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors 93-79 Sunday evening at the Air Canada Centre:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Even with Rajon Rondo back in the lineup, Paul Pierce continued to be Mr. Do-It-All for the Celtics, but his typical scoring punch will stand out most. Pierce poured in a game-high 30 points on 10-of-15 shooting (3-of-3 beyond the arc) with seven rebounds and four assists over 36 minutes. One game after coming under fire for some a poor late-game decision, Glen Davis flirted with a triple-double, most notably handing out eight assists to go along with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Rondo kicked in four points and eight assists over 34 minutes for the Celtics.

TURNING POINT
In a game in which the Celtics couldn't pull away, it was Pierce's emphatic, poster-ready, one-handed jam over two Toronto defenders late in the fourth quarter that essentially sealed the deal. Ray Allen followed with a pair of jumpers as Boston's lead ballooned to 12 with three minutes to play.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Celtics lost the rebound battle (49-37) and gave up 19 offensive boards leading to 19 second-chance Raptors points, but still found a way to cruise at the finish line.

UNSUNG HERO
Davis deserves as much credit as anyone. One day after his 25th birthday, he showed incredible maturity bouncing back from a tough night against New Orleans to put up a near triple-double. The Ticket Stub (his favorite nickname as he replaces Kevin Garnett) is back.

WHAT IT MEANS
Rondo returns, the Celtics win. He finished a team-best plus-22 in the plus/minus, showing his impact in this game while not necessarily filling the stat sheet. Boston gets back on the winning track after dropping three of its last four. The second end of a back-to-back looms Monday when the Minnesota Timberwolves visit the TD Garden to continue a grueling stretch of six games in eight days.

First impressions from afar after the Detroit Pistons defeated the Boston Celtics 104-92 Wednesday night at The Place of Auburn Hills.

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
The Celtics committed a season-high 21 turnovers, giving away 23 points off their sloppy play while dropping their second game on a three-game holiday road trip. Paul Pierce tried to rally the Celtics by putting the team on his back in the final frame, but couldn't do it alone. He finished with a game-high 33 points on 11-of-16 shooting (3-of-4 beyond the arc) with eight assists, five rebounds, and four steals. Ray Allen and Glen Davis kicked in 12 points apiece for Boston. The Pistons put five players in double figures, including veteran guard Tracy McGrady, who scored 21 points and dished out eight assists while starting in place of Rodney Stuckey.

TURNING POINT
The Celtics were playing poorly out of the gates, but Kevin Garnett suffered what the team later dubbed a "right lower leg" injury late in the first quarter and that didn't help matters. The team looked a bit shellshocked as the Pistons stretched out what was a seven-point cushion at that point. Even as X-rays suggested no fracture, the Celtics couldn't help but be worried about the status of Garnett, who had looked so spry this season.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Celtics entered the game allowing the fewest points per game in the NBA, then allowed Detroit to drop 104 points while shooting 55.7 percent (39 of 70) from the floor and 66.7 percent (10 of 15) beyond the arc. Playing without Stuckey, the Pistons still generated 27 assists.

UNSUNG HERO
The Pistons boast the best scoring bench in the league and Austin Daye chipped in 12 points on an efficient 5-of-7 shooting over 11 minutes, giving the sort of second-unit offense that kept Boston at arm's length.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics won't want to watch tape of this one, because it was ugly and the officials didn't aid their cause at all.
But the biggest concern is Kevin Garnett's injury and what the MRIs will show on Thursday. As Boston hopes to get point guard Rajon Rondo (sprained left ankle) back in the lineup Friday against the New Orleans Hornets, it could be preparing to navigate without Garnett for some time depending on what those tests show.

First impressions from afar after the Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 95-83 Tuesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse.

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Celtics reserves Glen Davis (14 points over 33 minutes) and Marquis Daniels (12 points over 30 minutes) produced the bench spark Boston desperately needed to rally late after a sluggish start. Paul Pierce scored a game-high 21 points on 8-of-14 shooting, hitting all three trifectas he attempted, while handing out seven assists and grabbing five rebounds. Kevin Garnett chipped in a double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds).

TURNING POINT
Riding a second-unit lineup, the Celtics opened the fourth quarter on an 11-0 run to turn a one-point deficit into a double-digit cushion. Ray Allen, the only starter with the group, produced a couple buckets and Davis added two more as Boston surged to a 77-67 lead with 8:38 to go. Daniels added two assists and a 6-foot bunny during the run, the former Pacer producing inspired play at both ends of the floor. Indiana didn't score its first field goal of the fourth quarter until nearly five minutes in.

STAT OF THE GAME
Maybe it shouldn't surprise us when opposing teams struggle offensively against Boston, but the Pacers shot a mere 37.2 percent (29 of 78 overall) highlighted by another rough night for Danny Granger (5-of-21, 15 points) and Roy Hibbert (3-of-9, 8 points).

UNSUNG HERO
As the Celtics sleepwalked through the early portion of the game (digging themselves an early hole), it was Pierce that provided the only offense, making his first four shots of the game. He went quiet for a bit, but finished the game with a fastbreak dunk and a 3-pointer to cap his all-around effort. Pierce finished plus-11 in the plus/minus, tops among starters.

WHAT IT MEANS
Despite coming out sleepy three days after their Christmas loss to the Magic, the Celtics get back on the winning track with a solid win on the road. More importantly, Boston won a game in which its starters weren't firing on all cylinders, something it's rarely done this year. Daniels starred against the team he enjoyed his finest NBA years with and showed another glimpse of what he's capable of when focused. In addition to his 12 points, Daniels added five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, a steal and a plus-12 in the plus/minus.

First impressions from afar after the Orlando Magic defeated the Boston Celtics 86-78 in a Christmas Day showdown Saturday afternoon at the Amway Center:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Despite thoroughly outplaying the Magic for roughly 40 minutes in the middle of Saturday's game, the Celtics snoozed out of the gate (Orlando scoring the game's first 13 points) and at the finish line (Orlando outscoring Boston, 15-1, to close out the game). Brandon Bass scored a team-high 21 points on 8-of-15 shooting with nine rebounds for Orlando, while recently reacquired Hedo Turkoglu added 16 points with a whopping plus-30 in the plus/minus category for the Magic. Kevin Garnett paced Boston with 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting, while Paul Pierce chipped in 18 points, struggling from the floor (6-of-14), but adding eight rebounds and five assists over 40 minutes.

TURNING POINT
The Celtics boasted a 77-71 advantage with 3:20 to go, but Boston's offense disappeared, settling for a mere free throw from Garnett, while missing its final seven shots from the floor. Orlando surged with 2:30 to go, Jameer Nelson lighting the fuse with a 3-pointer before Bass tied the game with a 14-foot jumper. Nelson's go-ahead 3-pointer put the Magic out front to stay, 80-77, with 1:19 to play.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Celtics limited Dwight Howard to 1-of-4 shooting and a mere six points over 33 minutes. Howard also missed six free throws (4 of 10 at the stripe) and was harrased all day. Even still, he made 3 of 4 freebies over the final 3:38 to aid Orlando's late rally.

UNSUNG HERO
Orlando's J.J. Redick quietly nagged at Boston yet again, connecting on 4-of-7 shots (including a pair of 3-pointers) for 11 points over 30 quality minutes. He finished plus-5 in the plus/minus, the only Orlando bench player in the positive.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics watched their 14-game winning streak end and, while this was a winnable game, their lapses at the start and finish sealed their fate. This is the first game that Boston really missed point guard Rajon Rondo, shooting a mere 39.4 percent from the floor. The defense was stout as usual, limiting Orlando to 34.6 percent shooting overall, but couldn't withstand the offensive drought over the final 3:30.

BOSTON -- First impressions after the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 84-80 Wednesday night at TD Garden:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
The Celtics shot a mere 38.8 percent, were plagued by foul trouble throughout the early stages of the game, yet still found a way to emerge with another gritty win that has decorated this 14-game winning streak. Ray Allen scored a game-high 22 points, offsetting a night in which Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Glen Davis (a combined 10 of 34 overall from the floor, 29 points) didn't have their typical shooting touch.

TURNING POINT
Pierce, 3-of-14 to that point, came off a pick-and-roll with Shaquille O'Neal and, despite not having a great look, canned a 19-foot jumper to put Boston on top, 82-78, with 1:36 to play. It was Boston's first two-possession lead since late in the third quarter and proved enough to keep the 76ers at arm's length the rest of the way. Garnett essentially sealed the win with a block on Andre Iguodala in the final seconds.

STAT OF THE GAME
After giving up 22 fast-break points in the first meeting between the two teams, the 76ers generated a mere seven fast-break points with Boston putting an emphasis on transition defense (particularly key on a night when 49 shots didn't fall for the Celtics).

UNSUNG HERO
Playing just his second game since missing four straight due to a sore right calf, Shaquille O'Neal logged 28 minutes -- well above his season average of 22 minutes per game -- and was the crunch-time center of choice (on a night Davis struggled). O'Neal hit a pair of free throws with 4:33 to go, but missed two tries that might have put the game away with 61 ticks remaining (and was soon lifted in favor of Davis). O'Neal finished with 13 points and nine rebounds.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics tried desperately at times to fumble this one away, but still found a way to win, their starters coming up big in the final five minutes, particularly on the defensive end. The winning streak stands at 14 heading into a Christmas Day showdown against the Orlando Magic with more help on the way if Jermaine O'Neal can get back on the floor for the holiday battle.

BOSTON -- First impressions after the Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 99-88 in a Sunday matinee at the TD Garden:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Paul Pierce produced his sixth career regular-season triple-double and first since March 8, 2006, as he registered 18 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists over 37 minutes to pace the Celtics to their 13th consecutive victory. Boston leaned on balanced scoring, putting five players in double figures with Nate Robinson and Glen Davis chipping in 18 points apiece. Shaquille O'Neal added 11 points and five rebounds over 22 minutes in his first start after missing four games with a sore right calf.

TURNING POINT
The Celtics, who couldn't produce a double-digit lead until the final moments, were clinging to a six-point cushion with less than five minutes to play when Robinson got scrappy chasing a Kevin Garnett miss, keeping a ball alive and dishing to Pierce, who fed Ray Allen on a 9-foot bank shot to put the Green out front 89-81 with 4:31 to play. The Celtics' defense had four straight stops around the same time, holding Indiana at bay when Boston couldn't quite produce the dagger.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Pacers shot a mere 36.5 percent from the floor, but hoisted a ridiculous 96 shots (Boston only took 76) and utilized 16 offensive rebounds to generate 19 second-chance points.

UNSUNG HERO
Robinson played a Rajon Rondo-like 42 minutes, hitting 7-of-15 shots, and his scrappy play over the final two quarters aided Boston in keeping the Pacers' at arm's length.

WHAT IT MEANS
Just another gritty win for Boston, which is leaning on Pierce to drive the offense in the absence of Rondo. Boston extends its winning streak to 13 games -- the longest in the NBA this season -- with only a visit from the Philadelphia 76ers looming before a Christmas showdown against the overhauled Orlando Magic.

BOSTON -- First impressions after the Boston Celtics defeated the Atlanta Hawks 102-90 Thursday night at TD Garden:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
It lacked all the glitz and glamor of Wednesday's barnburner in New York, but the Celtics, playing with a mere nine healthy bodies after Von Wafer (sore back) departed in the second quarter, gutted out the latest triumph on a 12-game winning streak that lacks all style points. Kevin Garnett (17 points, 14 rebounds) and Paul Pierce (15 points, 10 assists) produced double-doubles, while Ray Allen and Glen Davis both produced a team-high 18 points. Atlanta hung around for a while on the play of Marvin Williams, who scored a game-high 26 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while Jeff Teague filled the void of Jamal Crawford, scoring 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting off the pine.

TURNING POINT
The Celtics were clinging to a one-point lead midway through the third quarter, but erupted for seven points in 52 seconds, highlighted by an emphatic dunk by Semih Erden while running the floor in transition and an off-balanced 3-pointer from Paul Pierce for a 64-56 advantage with 5:11 to play in the frame. The burst injected life into a sleepy Garden and Boston kept the Hawks at arm's length the rest of the way.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Celtics were outworked on the glass, the Hawks finishing with an 37-33 advantage overall, but Boston overcame that -- and a mere four fastbreak points for the night (Atlanta had 14) -- to scrape together the win.

UNSUNG HERO
Semih Erden joined a total of six Celtics in double figures (including all five starters), putting up 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting over 24 minutes in his third consecutive start. The only negative: Erden pulled a "Mark Blount," failing to grab a single rebound during his time on the court, no easy task for a near 7-footer with extended court time.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics extended their winning streak to 12 games, matching the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs for the longest streak in the NBA this year. With only Indiana and Philadelphia looming before a Christmas showdown in Orlando, Boston will look to extend their streak in the face of mounting injuries.

NEW YORK -- First impressions after the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 118-116 Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
The Celtics' defense tightened up when it mattered most down the stretch and Paul Pierce canned a 14-foot step-back jumper over New York's Amare Stoudemire with 0.4 seconds remaining as Boston stunned a Knicks squad that led for most of the night. Pierce scored a game-high 32 points on 10-of-18 shooting and added 10 rebounds and four assists over 41 minutes. Rajon Rondo (10 points, 14 assists) and Kevin Garnett (20 points, 13 rebounds) added double-doubles for Boston. Stoudemire produced his ninth consecutive 30-point game, scoring a game-high 39 points.

TURNING POINT
The Celtics rallied from a double-digit third-quarter hole to knot the game at 94 with 8:34 to play, but Boston's defense disappeared. The Knicks scored on seven straight possessions, including Danilo Gallinari blowing past Pierce for a baseline jam and -- after a Boston miss -- Raymond Felton splashing a 3-pointer as New York opened a two-possession lead. But a Ray Allen 3-pointer in the final minute helped set up Pierce's winner. Stoudemire hit a 3-pointer that came just a hair after the buzzer.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Knicks shot 53.1 percent from the floor (43-of-81), but Boston still found a way to win a shootout, benefiting from 17 New York turnovers.

UNSUNG HERO
Nate Robinson provided a nice spark in his old confines, chipping in nine points off the bench and finishing a glossy plus-12 in the plus/minus.

WHAT IT MEANS
Do we have a rivalry yet? The Celtics took care of business, extending their winning streak to 11 games, but probably walk out of MSG with a lot more respect for the Knicks than they walked in with. This was a prize fight with a fourth quarter full of haymakers. Boston decided to play some late-game defense to give itself a chance to win, and ended the Knicks' eight-game streak in front of a deflated crowd. The teams don't meet again until Boston treks back to New York on March 21.

First impressions from afar after the Boston Celtics defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 93-62 Saturday evening at Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C.:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
The Celtics shot a season-worst 43.7 percent (31-of-71 overall from the floor), but it hardly mattered. Ray Allen overcame 4-of-11 shooting to score a team-high 16 points (matched by Glen Davis), while Kevin Garnett chipped in a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) over just 23 minutes. The Bobcats shot a gruesome 33.8 percent (24-of-71 overall), committed a whopping 20 turnovers (leading to 21 points), and helped Boston post their best defensive outing of the season (New Jersey's 75 points on Sunday a previous opponent low).

TURNING POINT
The Celtics boasted a 10-point cushion coming out of halftime and, after Charlotte danced within seven, Boston embarked on a 14-4 run that put the Green out front, 58-41, with 3:14 to play in the third quarter (allowing the mop-up squad to take over the dance floor in the fourth frame).

STAT OF THE GAME
Charlotte missed 10 3-pointers (1-of-11 overall) and 10 free throws (13-of-23 overall). All-Star Gerald Wallace missed 13 total shots (2-of-15 overall), while D.J. Augustin missed all eight shots he put up in a scoreless night as part of a cringe-worthy outing for the hosts.

UNSUNG HERO
Semih Erden drew his second consecutive start and registered 10 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, and a ridiculous plus-35 in the plus/minus over a career-high 40 minutes.

WHAT IT MEANS
Style point have rarely been Boston's thing and this one certainly won't get top billing in the season scrapbook. But it was a 31-point blowout and a nice way to ease the Green into a three-day break. The Celtics have now won 10 in a row and are 2-0 to start this little three-game-in-seven-days road trip that culminates against the Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

PHILADELPHIA -- First impressions after the Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 102-101 Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Ray Allen scored a team-high 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting, hitting a clutch 3-pointer with little more than a minute to play to aid Boston's late rally in what turned out to be a seesaw final minute. Kevin Garnett added 14 points, including the winning bucket, while Rajon Rondo added 19 points and 14 assists over a whopping 47 minutes. Jodie Meeks scored a team-high 21 points for the 76ers.

TURNING POINT
Philadelphia fell asleep at the wheel and left Ray Allen wide open for a 3-pointer that put Boston out front by one with little more than a minute to play. Andre Iguodala answered with a clutch jumper in traffic, but Glen Davis responded at the other end of the floor, splashing an 11-foot jumper to put Boston back out front. Iguodala blew past Pierce to put Philly on top, 101-100, with 6.6 seconds to go, but Garnett answered with the beautiful alley-oop layup off a feed from Rondo for the win.

STAT OF THE GAME
Forced to go small, Boston lost the rebounding battle, 39-33, but still found a way to overcome that and 15 turnovers.

UNSUNG HERO
When the Celtics went small, it meant extra court time for Nate Robinson. And on a night that everyone on the Boston bench not nicknamed Big Baby (16 points, 7 rebounds) went quiet again, Robinson hit a trio of second-quarter 3-pointers, scoring all nine of his points in a six-minute span in which Boston rallied out of a six-point hole (Philly's largest lead of the night) and took a one-point lead into the intermission.

WHAT IT MEANS
In a game the Celtics had every reason to falter, Boston runs its winning streak to nine games, winning the second night of a back-to-back on the road. The team gets a one-day break before visiting Charlotte on Saturday night.

BOSTON -- First impressions after the Boston Celtics defeated the Denver Nuggets 105-89 Wednesday night at TD Garden:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Celtics guard Ray Allen scored a game-high 28 points on 9-of-14 shooting with five rebounds, four assists and a glossy plus-27 in the plus/minus category to pace his team. Rajon Rondo played 30 minutes and dished out 13 assists despite looking a step slow because of lingering soreness in his left hamstring, and Kevin Garnett barely missed another double-double (17 points, 9 rebounds). Ty Lawson scored a team-high 24 points off the bench for Denver.

TURNING POINT
Despite fumbling away a 19-point, first-quarter lead and allowing Denver to make it a one-point game in the second, the Celtics slowly stretched out their lead in the third quarter, embarking on a 10-2 run late in the period to pull away for good. Garnett, Glen Davis and Semih Erden each had buckets as Boston carried an 11-point cushion into the final quarter.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Celtics continued to scorch the field, shooting a sizzling 55.9 percent (38-of-68), despite struggling beyond the arc (4-of-15, 26.7 percent).

UNSUNG HERO
Davis, sidelined since Sunday with flu-like symptoms, chipped in 16 points, 3 steals and 3 charges taken over 27 minutes off the bench.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics carry an eight-game winning streak into the second night of a back-to-back at Philadelphia on Thursday. Boston could have made things much easier on itself, but the bench's inability to hold a big first-quarter cushion forced the starters to log bigger minutes than they might have hoped. Fortunately, Boston had all 12 of its players available and didn't lean too heavily on its starting five (Pierce, who had an easy day Sunday in New Jersey, finished with a team-high 36:49).

NEWARK, N.J. -- First impressions after the Boston Celtics defeated the New Jersey Nets 100-75 Sunday afternoon at the Prudential Center.

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Playing without starter Rajon Rondo (sore left hamstring), Nate Robinson drew a spot start and produced a monster effort (21 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) while finishing plus-27 in the plus/minus category over 29 minutes of action. Kevin Garnett produced another double-double (13 points, 14 rebounds), while Glen Davis sparked a consistent bench effort with 14 points and nine rebounds. "You Should Be Dancing" played during the break before the fourth quarter and Kevin Garnett half-expected to find Gino on the JumboTron with the Celtics up 27 entering the final frame.

TURNING POINT
The second quarter had been a trouble spot for Boston with its reserves prone to giving up an early lead in recent games, but the Celtics instead blew the hinges off of this one in that frame. It was a two-possession game with little more than seven minutes remaining in the first half, but Boston embarked on a 15-2 run with more than half of the points coming at the charity stripe, while Marquis Daniels provided a pair of layups during the burst to help put Boston out front by 19. The Celtics never looked back.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Celtics limited the Nets to a mere 37.5 percent shooting (27 of 72 overall), while Boston finished at 50.6 percent (39 of 77).

UNSUNG HERO
In addition to sparking Boston's second-quarter run to make this game a laugher, Daniels finished 4 of 9 shooting with 10 points over 30 minutes. He continues to work well around the rim.

WHAT IT MEANS
Playing an afternoon game against a lackluster opponent and shorthanded due to injuries (even more so when Shaquille O'Neal sat out the second half with a sore right calf), the Celtics had plenty of reasons to stumble. Instead, Boston put together a complete and consistent effort then ceded the dance floor to their youngest players in the fourth quarter for valuable game experience. Boston has now won seven in a row with two days of rest looming.

BOSTON -- First impressions after the Boston Celtics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 99-95 Wednesday night at the TD Garden:

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Celtics captain Paul Pierce scored game-high 28 points on 9-of-11 shooting (connecting on 4-of-5 3-pointers), while Rajon Rondo posted another double-double (10 points, 10 assists) and Kevin Garnett chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds as Boston hung on for a gritty win. The Celtics overcame 17 turnovers that led to 21 points for the Blazers.

TURNING POINT
The Celtics were staring at a six-point deficit with 4:31 to play in the third quarter, but held Portland without a field goal the rest of the frame, the Blazers settling for four LaMarcus Aldridge free throws as Boston embarked on a 17-4 run to open their biggest lead of the night. Pierce highlighted the spurt with a pair of 3-pointers before Garnett hit a 19-foot fadeaway to close out the third quarter with Boston on top, 79-72. That proved to be just enough for Boston to hang on for victory.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Celtics, dominant in points in the paint during this recent winning streak, were actually outscored, 42-38, by the Blazers in the ink, but still found a way to shoot 57.1 percent (36 of 63) from the floor.

UNSUNG HERO
Guard Ray Allen labored all night, hitting just 3 of 12 shots for nine points. But, true to form, he saved a dagger of a 3-pointer for the final moments, putting a nail in the coffin by capping the scoring and putting the Blazers behind by two possessions with 10 ticks to go.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics have now won five straight, even if this was hardly the prettiest. Boston committed 10 first-half turnovers leading to 14 points for the Blazers and still only trailed by a point at the intermission (49-48) and only because Wesley Matthews hit a quartet of 3-pointers, including one with 0.3 seconds to play in the second quarter. The Celtics were up by 16 with five minutes to go and still nearly let this one slip away. But, like a veteran team, they made the big plays when it mattered most.

First impressions from afar after the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-87 Tuesday night at Quicken Loans Arena.

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Rajon Rondo scored a season-high 23 points on 11-of-17 shooting and handed out 12 assists over a team-high 38 minutes as his play single-handedly pulled Boston out of an early hole. Marquis Daniels chipped in 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting over 33 minutes to pace five other Celtics in double figures, providing the bench contribution the Celtics generally have lacked of late. Paul Pierce (11 points, 22 minutes) and Ray Allen (12 points, 23 minutes) got breezy nights, which should aid Boston with the second night of a back-to-back looming Wednesday.

TURNING POINT
The Celtics found themselves in a seven-point hole midway through the first quarter and looked like they might be falling prey to the sort of lackluster effort that dotted their loss in Cleveland last month. Instead, Rondo put the team on his shoulders (or maybe his ailing feet and hamstring is more appropriate), scoring the team's final 11 points of the first quarter to make it a one-possession game. Boston turned on the jets in the second quarter, outscoring the Cavaliers 35-22 for a double-digit halftime cushion.

STAT OF THE GAME
The Celtics registered eight more blocks Tuesday, matching their season high set in Friday's win over the Raptors. Boston now boasts 27 swats over its last four games (this after registering a mere 41 blocks over the first 13 games).

UNSUNG HERO
Daniels thrived with a second unit that included Rondo on the court, generating easy baskets around the rim, particularly with his slashing ability. While it's become routine for Glen Davis (17 points, 11 rebounds) to provide a nice punch off the bench, it's been rare for someone else to step up, but Daniels did that Tuesday.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics improved to 4-1 on the first night of back-to-backs this year and head home in good shape with the Trail Blazers coming to town Wednesday. Rondo put together a fine effort, increasing his own offensive output when the team needed it. Doc Rivers shortened his rotation in the early going and was rewarded with a big night from the bench.

BOSTON -- First impressions from the Boston Celtics’ 110-101 win over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at TD Garden.

Beat goes on: Rajon Rondo aced all his tests with longtime team trainer Eddie Lacerte and was cleared to return Friday from his three-game absence because of a strained left hamstring. If anyone was worried about him being rusty after the layoff, Rondo put those concerns to rest early and often against the Raptors. The Celtics’ star point guard had 8 assists in just more than 9 minutes of action in the first quarter, had 11 assists in the first half and finished with 14 for the game.

Paint them impressive: The Celtics outscored the Raptors 64-44 in the paint. Kevin Garnett continued his resurgence this season, recording his seventh double-double with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Many of Garnett’s points came on lobs from Rondo, a play the two use enough to make you wonder if they’ve applied for a patent. Shaquille O’Neal chipped in 16 points, making all five of his field goals, two days after submitting a 25-point, 11-rebound performance against the Nets.

Streaks come, and streaks go: For the second straight meeting, the Raptors ended a Celtics streak. Coming into the game, the Celtics hadn’t allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points in the fourth quarter in five games. Toronto made quick work of that, scoring 32 to erase much of what had been a 22-point, third-quarter Celtics lead and ensure there would be no early rest for the Celtics’ starters.

In the teams’ previous meeting, Sunday in Toronto, the Raptors ended the Celtics’ eight-game winning streak over the Canadian club. And though it doesn’t erase Sunday’s result, with their win Friday, the Celtics exacted a small measure of revenge by ending the Raptors’ four-game winning streak.