Brown scores 30 as Celtics blow 23-point lead, hold on to beat Raptors 121-113

TORONTO (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 30 points, Derrick White scored 14 of his 27 in the first quarter and the Boston Celtics beat Toronto 121-113 on Sunday, holding on late after blowing a 23-point lead in the second half.

Payton Pritchard scored 15 points and Anfernee Simons had 12 as the Celtics won their fifth straight and seventh of eight. Neemias Queta added 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Brandon Ingram scored 30 points and Scottie Barnes had 18 points and 11 rebounds but Toronto lost its third straight, all at home. The Raptors hadn’t lost back-to-back home games this season before Friday’s loss to Charlotte.

Boston led 87-64 after Pritchard’s 3-pointer about 3 1/2 minutes into the third quarter. Toronto answered by outscoring the Celtics 34-10 over the next 10 minutes, taking its first lead of the game on Jamal Shead’s layup with 10:39 remaining in the game.

The Celtics hadn’t trailed since the first half of Tuesday’s home win over the Knicks. Boston posted wire-to-wire wins at Washington on Thursday and at home to the Lakers on Friday.

Against Toronto, back-to-back 3s by White and Pritchard turned a three-point deficit into a three-point Boston lead with 7:15 left, and the Celtics didn’t trail again.

After making a season-high 24 3-pointers in Friday’s home win over the Lakers, Boston connected on 20 of 47 shots from long range against the Raptors.

The Celtics finished with two fewer made 3-pointer than Toronto had attempts. The Raptors shot 9 for 22 from deep.

Toronto has lost five of six heading into Tuesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup against New York.

Sandro Mamukelashvili scored 14 points for the Raptors. Ochai Agbaji and Immanuel Quickley each had 11 points, while Jakob Poeltl and AJ Lawson both had 10.

Boston outscored Toronto 17-4 in second-chance points.

Celtics: At Milwaukee on Thursday.

Raptors: Host New York on Tuesday in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

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

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, center, shoots over Boston Celtics Sam Hauser (30) and Neemias Queta (88) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday Dec. 7, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes (4) tries for a layup as Boston Celtics forward Josh Minott (8) tries to block him out during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday Dec. 7, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) goes up to shoot over Boston Celtics' Neemias Queta (88) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday Dec. 7, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram (3) drives against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday Dec. 7, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Raptors forward Brandon Ingram, second from right, looks to shoot against Boston Celtics guard Derrick White (9) during first-half NBA basketball game action in Toronto, Sunday Dec. 7, 2025. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

In a matter of hours Sunday, what had appeared to be a year no teams with losing records would be needed to fill out the bowl schedule suddenly changed when Notre Dame, Iowa State and Kansas State announced they would decline bids despite being eligible.

There are 41 bowls this year, and 82 teams won the necessary six games to be eligible. But Iowa State and Kansas State teams going through coaching changes almost simultaneously said they were hanging up their cleats for the season. Notre Dame, the first team left out of the College Football Playoff, followed a few hours later.

Mississippi State and Rice, both 5-7, swooped in to accept bids because they were among the first in line based on their Academic Progress Rate. The Bulldogs will play Wake Forest in the Duke's Mayo Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the Owls will face Texas State in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas.

The Birmingham Bowl was still searching Sunday evening for an opponent to play Georgia Southern, according to On3.

Iowa State, Kansas State and Notre Dame weren't going to play in any of those lower-level bowls, but their decisions altered the order of selections and presumably allowed three lesser teams to move up and bowls at the bottom to scramble.

Notre Dame's decision to shut down for the year came after it was announced as the first team left out of the playoff.

“As a team, we've decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season,” the Fighting Irish said in a statement on social media. “We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we're hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026.”

Notre Dame won its last 10 games following a three-point loss to Miami and a one-point loss to Texas A&M. The Fighting Irish, which lost to Ohio State in the national championship game last season, finished 10-2 and ranked No. 9 on Sunday in The Associated Press poll and No. 11 in the CFP rankings.

Miami got into the playoff as an at-large selection after moving from No. 12 to No. 10 in the final rankings. Notre Dame dropped a spot and will now stay home for the postseason for the first time since 2016.

The Big 12 Conference said it will fine Iowa State and Kansas State $500,000 each for opting out of bowl participation. Both schools are going through coaching transitions with Matt Campbell leaving Iowa State for Penn State and Chris Klieman announcing his retirement.

“While the conference acknowledges the difficult timing around coaching changes, the Big 12 is responsible for fulfilling its contractual obligations to its bowl partners,” the Big 12 said in a statement.

Iowa State announced its players voted to not play in a bowl because the team doesn't have healthy players to safety practice and play. ISU did not mention the coaching change from Campbell to Jimmy Rogers in its statement.

The Cyclones sustained numerous injuries this season while going 8-4, and members of the athletics administration and the previous coaching staff met Sunday with the players to gauge their interest in a bowl.

“The administrative staff and coaches respect and support the players decision,” athletic director Jamie Pollard said. “Our student-athletes have had an incredible season and we are grateful for their leadership as we worked through this process with them today.”

K-State athletic director Gene Taylor said he had conversations with players and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark before deciding to decline a bowl bid. The Wildcats were 6-6 after beating Colorado at home in their final home game.

“This decision was not taken lightly, but with our coaching staff transition and several uncertainties regarding player availability, I felt it was not in our best interest to try to field a team that was not representative of Kansas State University," Taylor said. "We applaud this group for fighting back from a 2-4 record to lead us to bowl eligibility yet again, and we are happy that our seniors were able to go out on top with a victory inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium.”

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Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht (3) looks to pass against the Oklahoma State during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Gerald Leong)