Celtics survive wild finish to beat Raptors: 7 takeaways

Toronto Raptors' Chris Boucher (25) fouls Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown (7) as he shoots to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Boston. Watch: Derrick White gives Celtics the lead with filthy 3-pointer late in 4th quarter

The Celtics were short-handed on the second night of a back-to-back on Friday, but they pulled out a hard-fought 120-118 victory over the Raptors to stay perfect at home.

Here are the takeaways.

1. The Celtics survived a wild finish.

Going into the fourth quarter, the Celtics held a 13-point advantage, but with Jaylen Brown on the bench (and with Jayson Tatum, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford all sidelined for maladies that are…