Raptors' C.J. Miles has nightmare game against Celtics

C.J. Miles picked a bad time to have his worst game in a Toronto Raptors uniform.

The Celtics came into Saturday’s heavyweight tilt with the Raptors on a five-game winning streak and only three games back for the top seed in the East. With only seven games remaining for both teams, a win for the Raptors would go a long way in securing home court for the duration of the playoffs.

Through three quarters in Boston the Raptors were in prime position to pull it off, entering the fourth quarter down two points. Then the wheels fell off. The Celtics were steady and the Raptors were sloppy, with Miles playing a starring role in the horror show.

The most senior member of Toronto’s Bench Mob was down right atrocious, going 0-for-6 from the field and 0-for-5 from deep, hitting air almost as much as he hit the rim. Oh, he also committed four turnovers, picked up five personal fouls — along with a bizarre technical he didn’t deserve — and was eaten alive by Marcus Morris in only 20 minutes of floor time. One guy, especially a bench player, doesn’t usually lose a game by himself, but there’s a case to be made for Miles on this night. It was that bad.

It was especially ugly down the stretch when the Raptors needed a big shot, the main reason Toronto signed him in the summer. Here’s how the fourth quarter went for Miles: Turnover, foul, missed 3, rebound, turnover, rebound, missed 3, foul. The missed shots are on thing, but those turnovers are a killer.

Every player has a bad game from time-to-time, and in fairness to Miles he hasn’t had too many of them over the last few months. But with LeBron James and the Cavaliers on tap Tuesday, followed by rematch with the Celtics the following night, Miles can’t afford another one like this from here on out.