TORONTO – Rajon Rondo didn’t take a single free throw in Boston’s first three preseason games. He’s turned that trend around in the Celtics’ past two contests.

Nate Robinson scored 23 points, Rondo had 21 and the Celtics beat the Toronto Raptors 117-112 in an exhibition game Friday night.

Rondo shot 12 for 15 at the line, as Boston outscored Toronto 41-30 in the third quarter to put the Raptors away.

“We had a lot of opportunities on the fast break,” Rondo said. “I just tried to go and attack and draw fouls.”

Celtics Coach Doc Rivers spoke to Rondo during Wednesday’s win at New York and urged him to try and get to the line more often.

“At halftime of the Knick game I told him, at that point, he hadn’t taken a free throw in the preseason,” Rivers said. “I said ‘Rondo, you have to get to the line.’ “

Rondo took the advice, attempting four free throws in the second half of that game before Friday’s third-quarter burst.

“The first five minutes of the third quarter, that was our Celtic defense,” Rivers said. “You felt for the first time since the first preseason game, they just locked in. There were no shots anywhere.”

Boston led by 29 but had to hold on late for its fifth win in six preseason games as the Raptors rallied from a 101-73 deficit after three quarters, outscoring the Celtics 39-16 in the fourth to make the game look close.

The late push did little to calm Raptors Coach Jay Triano, who was furious with his team’s lack of effort in the first three quarters.

“We didn’t work hard until the fourth quarter,” Triano fumed. “We got our (butts) kicked.”