Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics Prediction
| Game Time | 3:00 pm EST |
| Toronto Raptors Line | +17.5 |
| Boston Celtics Line | -17.5 |
| Total | 230.5 |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Below is a detailed analysis for Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics game.
PREGAME WARM-UP:
In this all-Eastern matchup between the second-best and second-worst squads currently in the conference, the Boston Celtics are hosting the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics have been struggling lately, as they are on their worst stretch of the season, with just one win in their last four games. The only silver lining is that they are playing their four consecutive game at home. The Raptors have been on a free fall lately, with ten consecutive losses, and it will be hard for them to stop the bleeding, as they are back on the road, where they have been terrible this season, with just one win in fifteen road games.
Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics Prediction
Boston Celtics Injury Report: Anton Watson, Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday are out.
Toronto Raptors Injury Report: Davion Mitchell, Bruno Fernando , Immanuel Quickley are out.
Boston Celtics Form and Trends
The Celtics have a 23-9 record this season and are sitting on the second place of the East. Boston is 12-20 against the spread and 15-16-1 in over/under. The Celtics have a 12-6 home record but are just 6-12 against the spread, with a +7.7-point differential. Boston is 1-3 in their last 4 games, and just 3-8 against the spread in their last 11. Over is 3-0 in their last 3 games.
Boston is coming off a 114-123 loss by Indiana, as they allowed the Pacers to shoot with 53%, while they shot with just 46%. Three Boston players scored 21+ points, led by Jaylen Brown with 31 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists.
Jason Tatum leads Boston in scoring this season, with an average of 28.5 points, adding 9.6 rebounds and a team-high 5.6 assists. Jaylen Brown adds 24.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
Toronto Raptors Recent Form and Trends
The Raptors have a 7-25 record this season and are sitting on the second to last place of the East. Toronto is 19-12-1 against the spread and 17-15 in over/under. The Raptors have a 1-14 record but are 8-7 against the spread, with a -7.3-point differential. The Raptors are 0-10 in their last 10 games and 1-4 against the spread in their last 5. Over is 5-1 in their last 6 games.
The Raptors are coming off a 107-136 blowout loss by Atlanta, as they shot with just 45% from the field and 29% from downtown. Scottie Barnes led Toronto’s offense with 19 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
RJ Barrett leads the Raptors in scoring, with an average of 23.4 points, adding 6.8 rebounds and 6.2 assists. Scottie Barnes adds 19.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and a team-high 7.1 assists.
Statistical Breakdown
Offensively, the Celtics are 4th-best in the NBA with 119.5 points per game. They shoot 45.8% from the field (19th) and 36.4% from beyond the arc (15th). Defensively, they allow 110.1 points per game, which is 6th in the league.
Offensively, the Raptors are averaging 112.3 points per game, which ranks 15th in the NBA. They shoot 46.3% from the field (16th) and 34.3% from beyond the arc (23rd). Defensively, they rank just 26th in the league, allowing 119.1 points per game.
In their previous meeting earlier this season, the Celtics won 126-123 in overtime at home. The Celtics are 9-0 in their last 9 meetings against the Raptors, but the Raptors are 3-1 against the spread in their last 4 meetings. Under is 6-2-1 in their last 9 meetings.
Prediction
In this Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics Prediction, the Celtics are coming as -17.5 home favorites. The Celtics are rightfully favored, as they are the superior team in this matchup, but they are in terrible form and fourth-worst team in the NBA against the spread, and 5th-worst covering at home. On the other hand, the Raptors are the fifth-best covering team in the NBA, but I still cannot trust them to cover on the road, where they are just 1-14 this season. Both teams have been involved in high scoring games lately, as they are 8-1 to the over in their last 9 games combined, and their only meeting this season had 249 total points, going 8.5 points over the total. I expect another high scoring affair, so take the over the point total. Nick’s Free Pick: Over 230.5
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