Rajon Rondo is a special, rare breed

Rajon Rondo has had his ups and downs, but he has emerged as one of the sport's premier point guards.

Celtics vs. Raptors final score: Boston coasts through Toronto, 107-89

Rajon Rondo had 20 assists, six points, two rebounds and one steal as the Boston Celtics (6-4) thrashed the Toronto Raptors (2-7), 107-89, Saturday afternoon from the TD Garden in Boston, MA.

After opening up a 16-point lead in the first half, Boston's poor play from the second quarter continued into the third, until they woke up from their slump and turned up their defensive intensity.

Toronto would cut the lead to three and that would be as close Boston allowed it to get. The Celtics forced three turnovers in the final 2:18 of the third quarter and would go on an 18-5 run to close the quarter, extending their lead on the afternoon to 15.

Boston showed up in the fourth quarter not allowing a point from the Raptors over the first three minutes, using a 6-0 run to get up 85-67. But more importantly for the Celtics, on the first night of a back-to-back, their starters weren't required to play big minutes and the game was never truly out of hand.

Boston starters Jason Terry had a season-high 20 points, Paul Pierce chipped in 19 and Kevin Garnett had 15. Toronto had even production from the starters and their bench, with Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon and DeMar DeRozan all scoring in double digits, while bench guys Linas Kleiza and John Lucas also recorded double-digit afternoons.

The Celtics shot 56 percent from the field, allowing the Raptors to connect on only 42 percent of their shots. Boston had 37 rebounds on the afternoon, while dishing out 37 assists as a team. Toronto notched 36 percent from three-point land, but only connected on 67 percent of it's attempts from the charity stripe.

Rajon Rondo had a season-high 20 assists, making it 33-straight games in which he has recorded 10 or more assists.

Rookie Jared Sullinger had a career-high 12 points and 11 rebounds over 26 minutes, recording his first double-double of his career.

Paul Pierce passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 18th all-time in free throw attempts with 7,623 FTAs after attempting six free throws Saturday.

Boston will look to get on another win streak when they travel to the Palace of Auburn Hills Sunday to match up against Greg Monroe and the Detroit Pistons at 7:30 pm ET.

For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team blog, Celtics Blog.

Celtics vs. Raptors score update: Boston leads Toronto, 47-42, at the half

Rajon Rondo had 11 assists and four points as the Boston Celtics lead the Toronto Raptors, 47-42, at halftime Saturday afternoon from the TD Garden in Boston, MA.

Just two days after dropping a nationally televised game to the Brooklyn Nets, without start guard Rondo, the Celtics were either going to come out firing or sleepwalk through the first half.

They chose the latter.

In a first quarter that saw Boston shoot 74 percent from the field, Rondo dished out seven assists and scored four points. The Celtics connected on just about every shot they took, missing only five attempts. They moved the ball effectively, rotated efficiently on defense and looked much more like the cohesive team they've come to be known as. Despite turning the ball over five times, they led 30-17 after one.

After a hot start in the first quarter, the Celtics as a team scored only 17 points in the second quarter. Boston allowed the lead to get down to three, before closing the second frame, leading by five.

At the half, Toronto is shooting 42 percent from the field, while the Celtics have connected on 55 percent of their attempts. Paul Pierce leads Boston, scoring 13 points on 11 shots. John Lucas has 11 points for Toronto over 13 minutes from the bench.

Rondo's 11 assists in the first half continued his streak of 10 or more assists, making Saturday his 33rd straight game.

For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit our team blog, Celtics Blog.

Celtics vs. Raptors: Boston tries to get back on track against Toronto

Brandon Bass and the Boston Celtics (5-4) host the Toronto Raptors (2-6) for the first time this season Saturday afternoon at TD Garden in Boston, MA.