The Toronto Raptors head to Beantown on Wednesday to take on the Boston Celtics in what was supposed to be a showdown between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Raptors have done their share as they currently hold the best record in the Conference at 33-12 but the Celtics, who were expected to top the East this season after a brilliant postseason run last season, are only at 5th place at 25-18 and seven games behind.
At 32-12, the Toronto Raptors sitting on the driver’s seat and are right where they want to be in the team standings. Heading to Tuesday’s games, the Raptors hold a 1.5 game lead over the Milwaukee Bucks for the best record not just in the East but in the entire league as well.
Kawhi Leonard leads the way for Toronto the former Defensive Player of the Year winner is averaging 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals per game. Serge Ibaka is contributing 15.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game for Toronto while Pascal Siakam is having a standout season with 15.2 points 6.9 rebounds and 1 steal per game.
The Raptors are the 7th best scoring team in the league with their 114.0 points per game average. Toronto also has the 10th best scoring defense in the NBA at 108.5 points per game allowed. The Raptors rank 16th in passing with 24.2 assists per game and are also 15th in rebounding at 45.4 rebounds per game.
The Boston Celtics are still struggling and groping for form midway into the 2018-19 NBA season. The Celtics were the favorites to top the LeBron-less Eastern Conference but due to injuries and inconsistent play, they have yet to ascend to the top. Boston is only 25-18 this season and in 5th place in the Eastern Conference. They enter Wednesday’s game against Toronto hoping to snap a three game losing streak.
Kyrie Irving leads the Celtics with 22.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 1.6 steals per game but he didn’t play on Monday due to injury. Sophomore Jayson Tatum continues to impress with 16.6 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. Marcus Morris is making a solid contribution with 15.4 points and 6.0 rebounds.
Boston is ranked 13th in team scoring with their 111.7 points per game average. The Celtics are 6th in passing with 25.9 assists per game and 17th off the glass with 45.0 rebounds per game. The men in green have the 6th best scoring defense in the NBA as they allow their opponents to score only 105.7 points per game.
The Raptors are 8-2 SU in their last 10 games played. Toronto is 3-2 SU in their last five road games. The Celtics are 5-5 SU in their last 10 games played. Boston is 4-0 SU in their last four games played at home. Head to head, the Raptors are 6-4 SU in their last 10 meetings.
These teams split their first two meetings of the season. Toronto took the series opener 113-101 at home while the Celtics struck back 123-116 at the TD Garden. Both these teams are stacked with talent from top to bottom but not all weapons will be at their disposal on Wednesday night.
Toronto is already without Jonas Valanciunas due to injury and they will also play minus OG Anunoby who is out due to personal reasons. Aside from the two C.J. Miles and Fred VanVleet have been declared as questionable for the Wednesday contest as well. Likewise, the Celtics are saddled with personnel problems. Kyrie Irving and Marcus Smart sat out Monday’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Smart is questionable for this game while Irving is no longer in the team’s injury report.
Based on current form, Toronto has the clear edge here because they have won five in a row.We also know that Boston has lost three straight but all three were road games. The Raptors have played very well away from home with their 15-8 road record. But the Celtics have won their last four games at home and are a solid 15-5 SU at home this season. With Irving expected to play, Boston gets a much needed boost. Kyrie called out his teammates after their loss to Brooklyn and I expect the Celtics to heed the call and step up in what could be a statement win for them. We’re picking the Boston Celtics to beat the Toronto Raptors on 1/16/19.
Toronto is 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games played and the Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their last five road games. Boston is 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games overall and the Celtics are 4-0 ATS in their last four games played at the TD Garden. Head to head, Toronto is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games against Boston.
Toronto is 1-7 ATS in their last 8 road games played and 4-9 ATS in their last 13 games against their Eastern Conference rivals. On the other hand, Boston has been impressive at home. The Celtics are 35-16 ATS in their last 51 home games, 17-5 ATS in their last 22 games against teams with winning records. Also, the home team is 7-0 ATS in the last seven meetings and Boston is 13-5-1 in their last 19 games against Toronto at the TD Garden. The trends point to Boston but they are really struggling right now. The Raptors are missing key players due to injury and Boston is a deep team. The Celtics are going to turn things around sooner or later. I think this is that game. Prediction: Celtics -2
The over is 4-1 in the Raptors’ last five road games and 7-3 in Toronto’s last 10 games overall. The total has gone over in six out of the last 10 games played by the Celtics and the over is 12-8 in Boston’s 20 home games played this season. Head to head, the total has gone over in six out of the last 10 meetings between the Raptors and Celtics.
Bot these teams have Top 10 defenses and in a game of this magnitude, you’d expect both teams to defend with playoff intensity. But both teams are also offensively loaded and can put up points on the scoreboard in a hurry. These teams scored a combined 239 points in their most recent meeting. Prediction: Over 221.5
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