Helping to open up the 10-game NBA slate, the Boston Celtics will face off with the Toronto Raptors.
Both teams sit among the top six seeds in the Eastern Conference early in the season and have legitimate postseason aspirations. The Celtics enter with an Eastern Conference-leading 9-2 record and are coming off an impressive win over the Philadelphia 76ers last night. The Raptors sit in sixth place in the East with a 5-5 record and are playing the first half of a back-to-back before taking on the 76ers tomorrow. This is the first of four matchups between these teams this season.
Looking at the odds for tonight’s matchup, the Celtics enter as 5.5-point favorites with -221 Moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Raptors hold +184 odds to pull off the outright win, with the game total set at 215.5 points.
Celtics at Raptors Preview
The Boston Celtics have overtaken the Philadelphia 76ers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference following last night’s victory to improve to 9-2 on the season. They enter this game riding a four-game winning streak and have won nine of their past 10 games after dropping the season opener against the Detroit Pistons. The Celtics have gone 6-5 against the spread, while the game total has stayed under in eight of their 11 contests.
Paul George has been ruled out for tonight’s matchup due to an illness, with Boston playing the second night of a back-to-back. His absence is significant, as he has provided 22.0 points per game while becoming an important part of the Celtics’ offensive attack. Devin Carter and Amari Williams will also be sidelined.
Jayson Tatum is not listed on the injury report and has already played in two back-to-backs this season. The six-time All-Star is posting averages of 26.5 points, 7.4 assists and 6.0 rebounds per game. Payton Pritchard is adding 13.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists, while Derrick White is the only other player averaging double figures with 12.2 points and 5.1 assists per game. Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta make up the bulk of the minutes at center, while Sam Hauser, Baylor Scheierman and Jordan Walsh also play important roles.
The Celtics are scoring 115.7 points per game to start the year, which ranks 11th in the NBA. They also rank third in offensive rating, 18th in field-goal percentage and third in three-point percentage while attempting the fifth-most three-pointers per game. Defensively, opponents are being limited to 104.0 points per game, which is the second-best mark in the league. Boston also ranks sixth in defensive rating, second in opponent field-goal percentage and 10th in opponent three-point percentage.
The Toronto Raptors are off to a 5-5 start to the season and sit 3.5 games behind the Celtics for the top spot in the Eastern Conference. They have dropped four of their last six games and most recently fell to the Memphis Grizzlies. Toronto has gone 5-5 against the spread, while the over/under has also split evenly at 5-5.
Injuries have played a significant role in the Raptors’ recent struggles. Kawhi Leonard remains sidelined with a left knee injury, while Scottie Barnes will miss his third consecutive game with a groin strain. Trayce Jackson-Davis and Nate Bittle have also been ruled out. Immanuel Quickley is considered questionable with a hamstring injury, while Collin Murray-Boyles is questionable due to an illness.
Among the available players, RJ Barrett headlines the production with 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Quickley is adding 17.4 points and 5.8 assists, while Murray-Boyles is contributing 10.7 points and 5.0 rebounds. Ja’Kobe Walter is the only other player averaging double figures with 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, while Jakob Poeltl and Jamal Shead also play important roles.
Darko Rajakovic’s squad is averaging 116.6 points per game, which ranks ninth in the league. Toronto also ranks ninth in offensive rating, 16th in field-goal percentage and 27th in three-point percentage. Defensively, opponents are scoring 113.3 points per game, which ranks 15th in the league. The Raptors also rank 12th in defensive rating, 23rd in opponent field-goal percentage and 21st in opponent three-point percentage.
Celtics at Raptors Pick, Best Bet
These are two teams with clear identities and established approaches to the game, but neither will be at full strength tonight.
Boston leans on a commitment to launching three-pointers at a high rate. The Celtics rank fifth in three-point attempts per game and third in three-point percentage. They also attack the offensive glass effectively, ranking seventh in offensive rebounds per game. However, Boston ranks 29th in opponent three-point attempts allowed, leaving some room for improvement on that end of the floor.
The Raptors lean on a more defensive-minded identity, although injuries have prevented them from reaching their full potential. They lead the NBA in turnovers forced while allowing the fewest field-goal attempts and the third-fewest three-point attempts per game.
While the absences of Barnes and Leonard are notable, Toronto’s collective defensive ability provides a strong foundation to remain competitive. George being sidelined is also a major hit to Boston’s production. The nine-time All-Star is averaging 22.0 points per game and has been a major contributor to the Celtics’ perimeter attack. He led the scoring charge with 36 points in last night’s win over the 76ers, shooting 14-of-22 from the field and knocking down six three-pointers. George has missed just one game so far this season, which came in a 109-93 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Beyond the X’s and O’s, this feels like a potential emotional letdown spot for the Celtics. Last night’s matchup against Philadelphia was highly anticipated, particularly given the attention surrounding Jaylen Brown and the 76ers. Boston successfully handled its business with a 123-101 victory, but it now has to travel to Toronto for another game against a scrappy defensive team on the second night of a back-to-back.
Toronto is a mentally tough team that should be capable of taking advantage of the scheduling situation. The Raptors’ ability to limit opposing three-point attempts is particularly encouraging against a Boston team that relies so heavily on perimeter production. The Celtics’ shooting always presents a threat to create a scoring surge and pull away, but the combination of George’s absence, travel and tired legs creates an opportunity for Toronto to stay within striking distance.
Boston has been the better team throughout the early portion of the season, but the circumstances surrounding this matchup make laying 5.5 points difficult to justify. Expect the Raptors to remain competitive throughout and have a legitimate opportunity to pull off the outright upset at home. Take Toronto +5.5.
