Boston overcame the absence of leading scorer Jayson Tatum to improve their NBA-leading season record with a tight 106-104 win over Toronto.
Fellow star Jaylen Brown had 27 points while Grant Williams scored a career-high 25 as the Celtics (34-12) extended their winning streak to nine games on Saturday night.
Boston’s injury woes worsened at the Raptors when guard Marcus Smart hurt his right ankle in the final minute of the first half and did not return.
But Malcolm Brogdon scored 23 points and Payton Pritchard all of his 12 in the fourth quarter as the Celtics remained unbeaten since a January 3 defeat at Oklahoma City.
“To win in the NBA is hard enough, to win on the road down a bunch of guys is hard to do,” Brown said.
“You don’t want to take it for granted, but we definitely have enough on this team, enough in this locker room, to win games whoever is on the floor.”
A potential NBA MVP candidate, Tatum sat out because of a sore left wrist. He’s averaging 31.2 points, the third-highest total in the league, and a career-high 8.5 rebounds.
In Cleveland, Evan Mobley scored a career-high 38 points, Darius Garland added 21 and the Cavaliers beat the Milwaukee Bucks, who were again without injured star Giannis Antetokounmpo, 114-102.
The 21-year-old Mobley finished 19 of 27 from the field and had his top scoring performance as a pro without making a free throw or three-pointer. He added nine rebounds.
“That’s exactly what we want to see from (number) 4,” Garland said, referring to Mobley’s jersey.
“Him being aggressive. Him just finding his pocket and doing what he does best. I would love to see that every night.”
Mobley is only the fourth player since 1979, when the three-point line was adopted, to score at least 38 points without making a free throw or triple. Hakeem Olajuwon, Alex English (twice) and George Gervin are the others.
Jrue Holiday scored 28 and Bobby Portis Jr. added 23 for Milwaukee, who played their fifth straight game without two-time MVP Antetokounmpo (knee).
The Bucks remain third in the Eastern Conference with a 29-17 record while the Cavs (29-19) remain fifth.
Philadelphia (29-16) are second after their 129-127 triumph over the Kings in Sacramento.
Without Joel Embiid and James Harden who both rested with foot injuries, the 76ers were led by Tyrese Maxey with 32 points. Tobias Harris, Montrezl Harrell and Georges Niang all scored 17.
De’Aaron Fox top-scored with 31 points for Sacramento (26-18), who remained third in the West behind the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies after the Sixers snapped their six-game winning streak.
Elsewhere, Australian Jock Landale had a double-double (10 points, 10 rebounds) in the Phoenix Suns’ 112-107 win over the Indiana Pacers.
There were also wins for Washington, Charlotte and Minnesota.
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