The NBA Summer League is off to the races with plenty of eyes on Las Vegas. Tipping off at 9:00 p.m. ET, the Boston Celtics will take on the Toronto Raptors in the debut matchup for both sides.
DraftKings Sportsbook is offering odds for all the summer league matchups, including some player prop and team prop options depending on your location.
Looking at the odds for this matchup, the Celtics enter as narrow 1.5-point favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Raptors hold -112 odds of winning outright, with the game total set at 180.5 points.
Celtics vs. Raptors preview, prediction
The Boston Celtics have already made waves this offseason with their decision to trade away Jaylen Brown for a package built around Paul George. They will turn a page to the new era of basketball, with a clear focus on the development of the youth, as indicated by their financially motivated decision. Summer league will be the first chance to show off their youthful talent, and assistant coach Amile Jefferson will be responsible for leading the summer squad.
First-round pick Chris Cenac Jr. will headline the effort, and joined by his Houston teammate Milos Uzan on the roster. Last year’s first-round pick, Hugo Gonzalez, will play a headline role after making a name for himself as a defensive stopper in his rookie season. Second-round picks Dillon Mitchell and Amari Williams will look to help their standings in the organization, while two-way talents John Tonje and Curtis Jones will also play key roles. Tucker DeVries and Caleb Gill are a pair of names to also be aware of.
The Toronto Raptors have also made headlines with their offseason additions, most notably due to their potential acquisition of Kawhi Leonard. While the trade process has hit a bit of a pause, it is clear that the organization is ready to build off its playoff appearance last year and join the heavyweights in the Eastern Conference. Assistant coach Imo Simovic will be responsible for leading the summer Raptors as they look to build some momentum heading into the new league year.
Last year’s ninth overall pick, Collin Murray-Boyles, will be expected to headline the production after a successful rookie season. He will be joined by this year’s 19th overall pick, Allen Graves, second-round selection Jaden Bradley, and last year’s second-round addition Alijah Martin. Already inked to two-way contracts, Seth Lundy and Chucky Hepburn will be looked to to play notable roles. Nate Bittle, AJ Hoggard, Malik Thomas, and Jamarion Sharp will also be names to note.
Celtics vs. Raptors pick, best bet
This is the first look at each of these rosters in the summer league setting. Collin Murray-Boyles is likely the most talented player on the floor for either team, but he is far from a finished product when it comes to development and scoring ability. Toronto has other notable names on the roster as well that the organization hope will make a push for a real role on the NBA roster.
However, there is an identity that the Celtics have established that fits their summer league roster in a way that does not feel the case with the Raptors. Hugo Gonzalez will make a case for why he is the best defender in all of summer league, and rookie Chris Cenac Jr. plays with a similar competitive spirit. Joe Mazzula has made a clear effort to foster an environment built around competing for everything, and Boston has done a nice job collecting players who subscribe to this ideology. This, paired with players who can get absolutely red-hot, such as John Tonje and Tucker DeVries, is a scary combo in the summer league setting.
Both sides will be figuring out their own teammates as much as they are their opponents in this debut matchup. But in a setting where there is limited offensive structure and plays, I am backing the high-level defense and bucket-getters on the Celtics. Similar to the true Raptors roster, they are dependent on athleticism and defense for success. However, these youthful talents do not possess the same level of polish as players like Scottie Barnes. Boston has the size and athleticism to match this, especially with Gonzalez and Cenac Jr. primed for the challenge.
Expect this to be a tightly contested matchup in which neither side is able to separate by much. But when push comes to shove, expect Boston to have more scoring options and a higher defensive level. Keep your eyes on the effort level of Gonzalez and Cenac Jr., and back these intriguing defensive-minded forwards to pave the way to a Celtics win in the summer league opener.
