Jayson Tatum scores 23, Celtics rout Toronto 125-71 as Raptors' losing streak hits 11 games

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum scored 18 of his 23 points in Boston's dominant third quarter, and the Celtics routed Toronto 125-71 on Tuesday, extending the Raptors' losing streak to 11 games.

The Celtics outscored the Raptors 45-18 in the third, using an onslaught of 3-pointers to pull away and close out 2024 with a blowout. Boston made 10 of 12 shots from beyond the arc in the period. Tatum hit four 3s and Jrue Holiday and Sam Hauser each hit two as Boston shot 74% for the period.

Holiday returned after missing three games with a right shoulder injury, finishing with 14 points. Payton Pritchard scored 19, Derrick White had 16 and Hauser finished with 12 points. Jaylen Brown added 12 points and nine rebounds in the win.

Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 16 points and 13 rebounds. Jakob Poeltl grabbed 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who went 2-11 in the month of December.

Raptors: Toronto never recovered after committing 12 turnovers in the first half while shooting just 29.5% (13 for 44) in the first two periods. It only got worse in the third quarter as the Celtics more than doubled the Raptors’ scoring.

Celtics: Boston led 90-53 by the end of the third quarter and rested its starters in the fourth.

After missing their first nine shots and falling behind 6-2 early, back-to-back 3-pointers by White and Holiday midway through the first quarter started the Celtics on an 8-0 run that put Boston in front for good.

Boston forced 21 turnovers, while committing just 13.

The Raptors are home Wednesday against the Nets. The Celtics open 2025 on the road Thursday at the Minnesota Timberwolves.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Toronto Raptors' Jakob Poeltl (19) battles Boston Celtics' Jayson Tatum (0) for a rebound during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown, left, drives past Toronto Raptors' Davion Mitchell (45) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Toronto Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter (14) misses his dunk in front of Boston Celtics' Sam Hauser, left, and Al Horford during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Derrick White (9) tries to get a shot off against Toronto Raptors' Ja'Kobe Walter (14) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Boston Celtics' Payton Pritchard (11) celebrates his three-pointer in front of Toronto Raptors' Davion Mitchell (45) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals is closing in on the NHL career goals record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky.

Ovechkin has 871 goals and needs 24 to set a new record.

Ovechkin entered the season 42 short of breaking a record by “The Great One” that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian is in his 20th NHL season and was on pace to get to 895 in February before breaking his left leg in a shin-on-shin collision in November. He missed 16 games but resumed his pursuit at Toronto in the Capitals' first game out of the Christmas break.

Ovechkin scored a power-play goal in the second period Thursday night against Minnesota, his 28th in 47 games against Marc-Andre Fleury. That's the most of any of the goaltenders Ovechkin has scored on.

Ovechkin already owns the NHL records for power-play goals and shots on goal.

He also has 132 game-winning goals, four away from breaking Jaromir Jagr's mark (135). Ovechkin has scored on 178 different goaltenders and counting, tying Jagr. Ovechkin has 177 multi-goal games, second to Gretzky (189).

Ovechkin earlier this season became the 60th player to record 700 career assists. He joined Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Jagr, Marcel Dionne and Phil Esposito as the only players with 700 goals and 700 assists.

Ovechkin, after climbing past Mike Gartner (708), Esposito (717), Dionne (731), Brett Hull (741) and Jagr (766), scored goal No. 802 on Dec. 23, 2022, to move into second all time behind Gretzky (894).

Gretzky has held the record since scoring his 802nd goal on March 23, 1994, to pass Howe. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons.

Gretzky holds 55 NHL records and even if his goals mark falls to Ovechkin — which he has said he is excited about — two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck as Minnesota Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm (47) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after his empty-net goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during third-period NHL hockey game action in Toronto, Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nov. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

FILE - Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) shoots the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Nov. 6, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)