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Valanciunas, DeRozan post huge lines in win over Celtics

Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Raptors head coach Dwane Casey has an up-and-down relationship with center Jonas Valanciunas in terms of late-game minutes. In Tuesday's big 114-106 victory over the Boston Celtics, however, that wasn't an issue.

"Is he a finished product? No," Casey said afterward, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. "But tonight he was."

Valanciunas grabbed a career-high 23 rebounds in the win, dominating Boston's Al Horford on the glass all night. While the Raptors' oft-maligned center shot poorly (6-of-18), he added 18 points and two big blocks.

Casey's comments came days after he told reporters about Valanciunas' more traditional big-man game, saying: "If your big guys don't dominate, you have to go small."

DeMar DeRozan also set a career best for boards in Tuesday's win, pulling down 13 to go with a season-high 41 points - only one off his career high.

"Way to rebound out there DeMar," Valanciunas said after the game, according to the Toronto Sun's Ryan Wolstat. "Thirteen rebounds, you looked like me."

The win was huge for the Raptors, after losing five of their previous seven games. Getting it against the team most likely to challenge them for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference has to be cathartic, even after beating Boston in December.

The Celtics are now 3-10 this season against the top 10 teams in the NBA.

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