Not many people would have thought Terry Rozier would be the key talking point in a February game between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference, but the Celtics are staying hot because of the play of their third-year guard.
One of the true measuring-stick games for the Raptors pops up on the schedule Tuesday night at the ACC when the first place Boston Celtics come to town. Kyrie Irving has sat out the last three games but the Celtics are a tough team to be with or without their All-Star point guard.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 6 Feb 4:18pm | BOS | -4.5 -110 | O +206 -110 |
| Closing 7 Feb 12:03am | BOS | -5 -110 | O +208.5 -110 |
Toronto took down the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend 101-86 and improved to 36-16 straight up and 28-24 against the spread on the season. The Raptors are 21-4 SU and 14-11 ATS on their home court and 7-2 ATS in their last nine games against the Celtics. Boston won and covered as a 3.5-point home underdog back in November against the Raptors.
The Celtics took no time recovering from the loss of Gordon Hayward who broke his leg on opening night against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Boston began a 16-game win streak after its third game of the year and covered the spread in 15 of its first 18 contests.
The C’s slowed down in the middle of January but they’ve found their groove again. Brad Stevens’ crew comes into Toronto the winner of four straight and riding a six-game cover streak.
Boston Celtics
Terry Rozier is averaging 19.7 points, 5.7 assists and 8.0 rebounds over the last three games with Irving out of the lineup.
Irving is questionable to return to action on Tuesday because of the same right quad injury that’s kept him out the last week.
Boston’s defense keeps games close even when it is missing a player as talented as Irving. The Celtics own the league’s best defense and allow just 99.9 points per 100 possessions.
Toronto Raptors
The Celtics are a couple games up in the standings and they own the better ATS mark but the Raptors possess a better point differential and net rating than the guys in green.
One of the main reasons the advanced numbers love Toronto this season is because of the off-the-chart production the club is getting from its bench. The Dinos outscored Memphis 52-19 in bench scoring on Saturday night in a game All-Stars Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan combined to score just 24 points.
Injuries
Marcus Smart (PG)
Marcus Morris (PF)
Greg Monroe (C)
Terry Rozier (PG)
Guerschon Yabusele (PF)
Shane Larkin (PG)
Jabari Bird (SG)
Daniel Theis (PF)
Aron Baynes (C)
Al Horford (PF)
Fred VanVleet (PG)
OG Anunoby (SF)
Pascal Siakam (PF)
Serge Ibaka (PF)
Norman Powell (SF)
Lucas Nogueira (C)
Jonas Valanciunas (C)
CJ Miles (SF)
Delon Wright (PG)
Nigel Hayes (SF)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Smart (PG) | Prob Thurs | Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18 | 7-4 | 5-6 | + - |
|
Smart is dealing with an injured thumb but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers. |
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| Marcus Morris (PF) | Prob Sat | Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18 | 8-5 | 6-7 | + - |
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Morris is battling a thigh injury but is expected to be available for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks. |
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| Greg Monroe (C) | Ques Tues | Illness - 17 / 04 / 18 | 12-6 | 10-8 | + - |
|
Monroe is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Terry Rozier (PG) | Prob Sun | Finger - 12 / 04 / 18 | 13-6 | 11-8 | + - |
|
Rozier is dealing with a finger injury but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks. |
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| Guerschon Yabusele (PF) | Prob Wed | Knee - 08 / 04 / 18 | 14-8 | 14-8 | + - |
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Yabusele has sat out the last two games due to a knee injury but is expected play Wednesday against the Nets. |
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| Shane Larkin (PG) | Prob Fri | Illness - 02 / 04 / 18 | 16-9 | 16-9 | + - |
|
Larkin has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games due to an illness but is expected to play Friday against the Bulls. |
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| Jabari Bird (SG) | Prob Sun | Back - 14 / 03 / 18 | 22-12 | 18-16 | + - |
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Bird has missed the last two games with a back injury but is likely to play against the Pelicans on Sunday. |
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| Daniel Theis (PF) | out for season | Knee - 11 / 03 / 18 | 23-12 | 19-16 | + - |
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Theis had season-ending surgery after suffering a torn left meniscus. |
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| Aron Baynes (C) | Prob Mon | Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18 | 28-14 | 24-17-1 | + - |
|
Baynes missed the last game with left elbow soreness but is expected to suit up for Monday's matchup with the Grizzlies. |
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| Al Horford (PF) | Ques Sat | Head - 24 / 01 / 18 | 35-19 | 30-23-1 | + - |
|
Horford sat out the last game due to a head injury and his status for Saturday's contest against the Warriors is uncertain. |
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| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred VanVleet (PG) | Prob Thurs | Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
|
VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers. |
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| OG Anunoby (SF) | Prob Wed | Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18 | 3-3 | 2-4 | + - |
|
Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards. |
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| Pascal Siakam (PF) | Prob Sun | Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18 | 3-4 | 3-4 | + - |
|
Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip. |
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| Serge Ibaka (PF) | Prob Sat | Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18 | 5-5 | 6-4 | + - |
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Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game. |
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| Norman Powell (SF) | Ques Mon | Knee - 09 / 04 / 18 | 6-5 | 7-5 | + - |
|
Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons. |
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| Lucas Nogueira (C) | Ques Sat | Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18 | 7-5 | 7-6 | + - |
|
Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round. |
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| Jonas Valanciunas (C) | Out Sun | Rest - 08 / 04 / 18 | 7-5 | 7-6 | + - |
|
Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic. |
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| CJ Miles (SF) | Prob Sun | Illness - 21 / 03 / 18 | 8-12 | 11-10 | + - |
|
Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday. |
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| Delon Wright (PG) | Doub Sun | Toe - 06 / 03 / 18 | 13-16 | 15-15 | + - |
|
Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks. |
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| Nigel Hayes (SF) | Ques Fri | Personal - 06 / 03 / 18 | 13-16 | 15-15 | + - |
|
Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets. |
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Celtics vs. Raptors Prediction
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 6 Feb 4:18pm BOS -4.5 -110 O +206 -110 Closing 7 Feb 12:03am BOS -5 -110 O +208.5 -110 -
Injuries
Marcus Smart (PG)
Prob Thurs Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18Marcus Morris (PF)
Prob Sat Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18Greg Monroe (C)
Ques Tues Illness - 17 / 04 / 18Terry Rozier (PG)
Prob Sun Finger - 12 / 04 / 18Guerschon Yabusele (PF)
Prob Wed Knee - 08 / 04 / 18Shane Larkin (PG)
Prob Fri Illness - 02 / 04 / 18Jabari Bird (SG)
Prob Sun Back - 14 / 03 / 18Daniel Theis (PF)
out for season Knee - 11 / 03 / 18Aron Baynes (C)
Prob Mon Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18Al Horford (PF)
Ques Sat Head - 24 / 01 / 18Fred VanVleet (PG)
Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18OG Anunoby (SF)
Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18Pascal Siakam (PF)
Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18Serge Ibaka (PF)
Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18Norman Powell (SF)
Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18Lucas Nogueira (C)
Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18Jonas Valanciunas (C)
Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18CJ Miles (SF)
Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18Delon Wright (PG)
Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18Nigel Hayes (SF)
Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Marcus Smart (PG) Prob Thurs Thumb - 01 / 05 / 18 7-4 5-6 + - Smart is dealing with an injured thumb but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the 76ers.
Marcus Morris (PF) Prob Sat Thigh - 27 / 04 / 18 8-5 6-7 + - Morris is battling a thigh injury but is expected to be available for Game 7 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks.
Greg Monroe (C) Ques Tues Illness - 17 / 04 / 18 12-6 10-8 + - Monroe is ailing from an illness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Terry Rozier (PG) Prob Sun Finger - 12 / 04 / 18 13-6 11-8 + - Rozier is dealing with a finger injury but is expected to be available for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Bucks.
Guerschon Yabusele (PF) Prob Wed Knee - 08 / 04 / 18 14-8 14-8 + - Yabusele has sat out the last two games due to a knee injury but is expected play Wednesday against the Nets.
Shane Larkin (PG) Prob Fri Illness - 02 / 04 / 18 16-9 16-9 + - Larkin has been absent from the lineup during the previous two games due to an illness but is expected to play Friday against the Bulls.
Jabari Bird (SG) Prob Sun Back - 14 / 03 / 18 22-12 18-16 + - Bird has missed the last two games with a back injury but is likely to play against the Pelicans on Sunday.
Daniel Theis (PF) out for season Knee - 11 / 03 / 18 23-12 19-16 + - Theis had season-ending surgery after suffering a torn left meniscus.
Aron Baynes (C) Prob Mon Elbow - 23 / 02 / 18 28-14 24-17-1 + - Baynes missed the last game with left elbow soreness but is expected to suit up for Monday's matchup with the Grizzlies.
Al Horford (PF) Ques Sat Head - 24 / 01 / 18 35-19 30-23-1 + - Horford sat out the last game due to a head injury and his status for Saturday's contest against the Warriors is uncertain.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Fred VanVleet (PG) Prob Thurs Shoulder - 01 / 05 / 18 2-2 2-2 + - VanVleet is dealing with a shoulder injury but is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cavaliers.
OG Anunoby (SF) Prob Wed Ankle - 23 / 04 / 18 3-3 2-4 + - Anunoby suffered an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards.
Pascal Siakam (PF) Prob Sun Mouth - 21 / 04 / 18 3-4 3-4 + - Siakam will likely be available for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round against the Wizards despite requiring stitches for a lacerated lip.
Serge Ibaka (PF) Prob Sat Mouth - 12 / 04 / 18 5-5 6-4 + - Ibaka is expected to play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round despite taking a hit to his mouth in a previous game.
Norman Powell (SF) Ques Mon Knee - 09 / 04 / 18 6-5 7-5 + - Powell suffered a knee injury in the previous game and it is unclear if he will play Monday against the Pistons.
Lucas Nogueira (C) Ques Sat Hamstring - 08 / 04 / 18 7-5 7-6 + - Nogueira is dealing with left hamstring tightness and it is uncertain if he will play against the Wizards in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Jonas Valanciunas (C) Out Sun Rest - 08 / 04 / 18 7-5 7-6 + - Valanciunas will receive a day of rest and will not participate in Sunday's game against the Magic.
CJ Miles (SF) Prob Sun Illness - 21 / 03 / 18 8-12 11-10 + - Miles has missed the last two games due to a bout of gastroenteritis but is expected to be available against the Clippers on Sunday.
Delon Wright (PG) Doub Sun Toe - 06 / 03 / 18 13-16 15-15 + - Wright missed the last game due to a sprained right big toe and is not likely to play on Sunday against the Knicks.
Nigel Hayes (SF) Ques Fri Personal - 06 / 03 / 18 13-16 15-15 + - Hayes is dealing with visa issues and it is uncertain if he will be available for Friday's tilt against the Rockets.