Valanciunas: Celts racing for 2nd place, Raps for 1st

The Toronto Raptors are now 2-0 against the Boston Celtics this season and threw some shade after Tuesday's 114-106 win, as Toronto center Jonas Valanciunas declared the Eastern Conference standings a two-way race between the Raptors and first-place Cleveland Cavaliers.

"They (the Celtics) are racing for the second place, we are racing for the first," Valanciunas told reporters after pulling down a career-high 23 rebounds and dominating Boston's Al Horford on the glass.

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With Tuesday's victory, Toronto pulled to within 3.5 games of Cleveland and upped its lead to two games over Boston.

Raptors coach Dwane Casey stuck with Valanciunas in the fourth quarter Tuesday - something Casey often avoids doing - and it paid off. The center grabbed seven offensive rebounds in the period, had two key blocks, and scored six of his 18 points.

"I was just more active," Valanciunas said.