The Toronto Raptors return from arguably their toughest road trip of the season Monday and their reward at Scotiabank Arena is a date with the NBA-best Boston Celtics.

The Celtics are 7-point favourites to win on the NBA odds.

Celtics vs. Raptors NBA Betting Odds

For those wondering why there are so many NBA matinees on Monday, while not relevant here, it’s because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in the United States, one of the biggest regular-season days annually in the Association.

Monday is the last meeting of the season between the clubs with Boston trying for the four-game sweep. Two of the three were very close, including the Celtics’ 108-105 victory at Scotiabank Arena on Nov. 17. Derrick White made a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 26.8 seconds remaining as the C’s recovered after blowing a 16-point halftime lead. Scottie Barnes had an open three-pointer with 11 seconds left but missed. The Raptors held Boston star Jayson Tatum to 17 points in that one and have had success against him in the past. Tatum is averaging 18.5 points in 22 matchups against Toronto, his lowest average against any club.

Boston has won seven straight in the series overall to lead 69-42 all-time but trails 28-27 as the road team despite taking the past three. The Dinos are just 3-7 ATS in the past 10.

Boston Celtics

It has been an interesting past two games for the NBA title favourites. They were obliterated on Thursday night in Milwaukee but that was a second of a back-to-back for the Celtics and all they key guys had played at least 40 minutes the night before in an OT win against Minnesota. Full rested on Saturday, the Celtics took out their frustrations with a 145-113 rout of a good Houston team to improve to 19-0 at home – the only team without a home loss. Jaylen Brown had 32 points and Jayson Tatum 27 despite being ejected in the fourth for arguing with the refs; the game was out of hand by that point and Tatum said it was intentional: “I’m a pretty self-aware person. I understand the time and score of the game. The game was pretty much over. I’ve got to stand up for myself.” Brown (23.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg) is listed as questionable Monday with a right knee hyperextension. This is one of those one-game trips that NBA players hate, so you very well could see him sit out ahead of a return back home. That would knock this spread down a couple of points. The Celtics have just one loss all season when shooting a better percentage from the field than their opponent. Boston is 8-0 in its past eight vs. Atlantic Division foes.

Toronto Raptors

The Dinos finished their six-game trip through the Western Conference at 2-4 following a 145-113 loss in Utah on Friday – Toronto’s third straight defeat with the team allowing at least 126 points in each. The Jazz outscored the Raptors 58-32 in the paint and made 21 three-pointers. Utah also had a 68-36 advantage in total rebounds as the Dinos remain without injured centre Jakob Poeltl. As trade rumours swirl, Pascal Siakam had 27 points after missing the previous game with back spasms. Assuming he’s not dealt by then, Siakam will be playing in his 510th career game with Toronto on Monday, passing Chris Bosh for fifth on the all-time list. Siakam is averaging 26.0 points while shooting 59.7 per cent from the field and an absurd 64.5 per cent from deep since arc since Toronto’s last game vs. Boston in late December. It’s the highest three-point percentage over an eight-game stretch in Siakam’s career and highest in the NBA over that span (minimum of 20 three-pointers attempted). The Raptors have shot 40 per cent or better from three-point range in a season-high four straight games, but it doesn’t matter if they don’t defend. Toronto has lost 12 straight games vs. Atlantic Division teams.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Celtics vs. Raptors?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Celtics Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 26.85
Assists	Derrick White 5.16
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.12
FG%	Luke Kornet 70
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.19
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.95

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 25
Assists	Jayson Tatum 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 9.68
FG%	Neemias Queta 66.7
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.21
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.57

TOR

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Raptors Team Leaders

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 26.85
Assists	Derrick White 5.16
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 8.12
FG%	Luke Kornet 70
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.19
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.95

TOR

Points	RJ Barrett 21.75
Assists	Immanuel Quickley 6.76
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 8.58
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.6
Steals	Kobi Simmons 1.5
Blocks	Mouhamadou Gueye 1.64

BOS

Points	Jayson Tatum 25
Assists	Jayson Tatum 6.26
Rebounds	Jayson Tatum 9.68
FG%	Neemias Queta 66.7
Steals	Jaylen Brown 1.21
Blocks	Kristaps Porzingis 1.57

TOR

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Boston

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Prob Mon Leg - 11 / 06 / 24

Luke Kornet (C)

Ques Thurs Wrist - 30 / 05 / 24

Jrue Holiday (PG)

Prob Mon Illness - 26 / 05 / 24

Jrue Holiday (PG)

Prob Sun Illness - 25 / 05 / 24

Luke Kornet (C)

Prob Mon Wrist - 24 / 05 / 24

Xavier Tillman (PF)

Ques Sat Personal - 20 / 05 / 24

Luke Kornet (C)

Prob Mon Calf - 12 / 05 / 24

Kristaps Porzingis (PF)

Prob Thur Calf - 29 / 04 / 24

Luke Kornet (C)

Prob Sat Calf - 20 / 04 / 24

Al Horford (C)

Prob Sun Toe - 12 / 04 / 24

Toronto

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Sun Knee - 14 / 04 / 24

Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)

Out Sun Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Sun Hip - 13 / 04 / 24

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Ques Fri Back - 10 / 04 / 24

RJ Barrett (SF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Bruce Brown (PG)

Ques Fri Knee - 10 / 04 / 24

Jordan Nwora (PF)

Prob Wed Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 24

Immanuel Quickley (SG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 24

Gradey Dick (SG)

Prob Wed Groin - 07 / 04 / 24

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Prob Mon	Leg - 11 / 06 / 24	1-1	0-3	+ -
Porzingis is nursing a lower leg injury, but he is expected to be on court against the Mavericks on Monday in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Luke Kornet (C)	Ques Thurs	Wrist - 30 / 05 / 24	2-2	0-5	+ -
Kornet is dealing with a left wrist sprain injury, and it is undetermined if he will be active in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks on Thursday.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	Prob Mon	Illness - 26 / 05 / 24	3-3	2-5	+ -
Holiday is ailing from illness, but he is projected to be on court against the Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Jrue Holiday (PG)	Prob Sun	Illness - 25 / 05 / 24	3-3	2-5	+ -
Holiday is dealing with a non-COVID illness, but he is likely to be on court against the Pacers on Sunday.
Luke Kornet (C)	Prob Mon	Wrist - 24 / 05 / 24	3-3	2-5	+ -
Kornet is dealing with a left wrist sprain injury, but he is expected to play against the Pacers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Xavier Tillman (PF)	Ques Sat	Personal - 20 / 05 / 24	3-5	4-5	+ -
Tillman has missed the last two game because of the personal reasons, and it is unclear if he will play Saturday against the Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Luke Kornet (C)	Prob Mon	Calf - 12 / 05 / 24	4-7	5-7	+ -
Kornet has a right calf injury, but he is expected to feature in the lineup against the Cavaliers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Kristaps Porzingis (PF)	Prob Thur	Calf - 29 / 04 / 24	8-7	7-9	+ -
Porzingis is dealing with a right calf strain, and he is expected to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Mavericks on Thursday.
Luke Kornet (C)	Prob Sat	Calf - 20 / 04 / 24	9-8	9-10	+ -
Kornet has been out of commission with a right calf strain, but he is expected to return to the court for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Heat.
Al Horford (C)	Prob Sun	Toe - 12 / 04 / 24	10-9	11-10	+ -
Horford has a left big toe sprain, but he is expected to line up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Sun	Knee - 14 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Barrett is bothered by knee soreness, and he will not battle the Heat on Sunday.
Mouhamadou Gueye (PF)	Out Sun	Thumb - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Gueye is hampered by a right thumb sprain, and he will not take on the Heat in Sunday's showdown.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Sun	Hip - 13 / 04 / 24	0-1	1-0	+ -
Quickley is laid up with a left adductor strain, and he will not participate in Sunday's tilt against the Heat.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Ques Fri	Back - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Trent Jr. was held out of the last contest due to back spasms, and it is undetermined if he will take on the Heat on Friday.
RJ Barrett (SF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Barrett will not partake in Wednesday's showdown versus the Nets as he will be given a day of rest.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Ques Fri	Knee - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Brown sat out the previous game with right knee inflammation, and it is unknown if he will face the Heat on Friday.
Jordan Nwora (PF)	Prob Wed	Undisclosed - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Nwora exited the previous game with an undefined issue, but it is projected that he will dress for Wednesday's matchup with the Nets.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 24	1-2	2-1	+ -
Olynyk will not be available for Wednesday's clash with the Nets as he will receive a day of rest.
Immanuel Quickley (SG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 24	2-2	3-1	+ -
Quickley will not be active for Tuesday's clash with the Pacers as he will be given a day of rest.
Gradey Dick (SG)	Prob Wed	Groin - 07 / 04 / 24	3-2	3-2	+ -
Dick missed the last game with a right groin contusion, but it is projected that he will line up against the Nets on Wednesday.