For only the second time in franchise history and first at home, the Toronto Raptors will play on Christmas Day. Their opponents Wednesday in the first of five holiday NBA games are the Boston Celtics, a Christmas staple.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Winning an NBA title carries with it plenty of benefits. One of those is being featured on American national television a lot more the following season. The league also clearly rewarded the Raptors for last season’s championship with a spot on the five-game Christmas slate. It’s easily the marquee day of the regular season every year and more than a few NBA fans wish the league would start every season on Christmas like happened in the 2011-12 lockout campaign.

While Toronto has been a good club for years, the U.S. national TV networks understandably didn’t want the Raptors on this showcase day because they don’t get credit for Canadian television viewers and of course advertisers pay big money for American viewership numbers. These will be some of the highest-rated and most-wagered games of the regular season without question because there’s nothing else going on sports-wise Dec. 25 (no bowl games, no NFL games, no NHL games).

The Dinos’ only Christmas game was in 2001 when Vince Carter & Co. visited the New York Knicks. The home team prevailed 102-94 behind 34 points from Allan Houston and 21 from Latrell Sprewell. Carter was just 6-for-20 for 15 points. Morris Peterson had 21 points and Dell Curry, father of current Warriors superstar Steph Curry, had 10 off the bench.

Boston is one of the NBA’s marquee franchises and has played on Christmas 32 times, winning 14. Last year, the Celtics beat the visiting 76ers on the holiday 121-114 in overtime.

It’s the second of four regular-season meetings between the Celtics and Raptors, and they play again Saturday in Boston. The Celtics have failed to cover their past eight trips to Toronto (all Raptors wins). The under is 4-1 in the past five there.

Boston Celtics

Boston has been off since Sunday when it blew out a bad Hornets team 119-93 for a third straight victory. Jayson Tatum had a career-high 39 points to go with 12 rebounds, while former Hornet Kemba Walker had 23 points. The Celtics outscored Charlotte 35-16 in the fourth. Boston was without two key players in forward Gordon Hayward (foot) and guard Marcus Smart (eye). Hayward is likely to play in this one, but Smart has been out since Dec. 6 due to an infection and isn’t likely to.

Boston will have centre Enes Kanter available. That’s notable because the native of Turkey doesn’t travel outside the USA. He has been a very outspoken critic of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Kanter has an international arrest warrant out on him with the Turkish government accusing him of terrorism and continually threatening Kanter. He still needs a visa to travel outside the USA, but between the efforts of the Canadian and U.S. governments has the all clear for this game.

Toronto Raptors

Toronto’s five-game winning streak ended Monday in a 120-115 overtime loss at Indiana – one could really see that loss coming after the Raptors expended so much energy the day before in rallying from a 30-point deficit to beat Dallas. Kyle Lowry had 30 points (but missed a potential winner in the final seconds of regulation), nine assists and six rebounds on Monday, while Fred VanVleet added 21 points and 11 assists. Serge Ibaka chipped in 23 points and nine rebounds.

Pascal Siakam (groin), Marc Gasol (hamstring) and Norman Powell (shoulder) each missed a third game in a row and remain out indefinitely so Lowry will have to continue to carry a big scoring load. The Raptors are 5-1-2 ATS in their past eight as home underdogs.

Who Will Win Celtics vs. Raptors?

Injuries

Boston

Romeo Langford (SG)

out for season Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20

Jaylen Brown (SG)

Prob Tues Groin - 12 / 09 / 20

Vincent Poirier (C)

Prob Tues Personal - 03 / 09 / 20

Robert Williams III (C)

Prob Thurs Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20

Tremont Waters (PG)

Prob Mon Knee - 26 / 08 / 20

Javonte Green (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 20 / 08 / 20

Jaylen Brown (SG)

Prob Wed Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20

Gordon Hayward (SF)

Ques Sat Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20

Vincent Poirier (C)

Prob Wed Groin - 16 / 08 / 20

Romeo Langford (SG)

Prob Mon Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20

Toronto

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 07 / 09 / 20

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)

Prob Sun Knee - 21 / 08 / 20

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Out Fri Rest - 14 / 08 / 20

OG Anunoby (SF)

Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Mon Knee - 10 / 08 / 20

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Wed Knee - 10 / 08 / 20

Paul Watson (SG)

Doub Sun Back - 09 / 08 / 20

Serge Ibaka (PF)

Prob Sun Eye - 08 / 08 / 20

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)

day-to-day Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20

Oshae Brissett (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 31 / 07 / 20

Injuries

Boston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Romeo Langford (SG)	out for season	Wrist - 17 / 09 / 20	2-3	4-1	+ -
Langford will miss the remainder of the season after having surgery to fix the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.
Jaylen Brown (SG)	Prob Tues	Groin - 12 / 09 / 20	3-4	5-2	+ -
Brown is hampered by a groin injury, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final versus the Heat.
Vincent Poirier (C)	Prob Tues	Personal - 03 / 09 / 20	6-5	5-6	+ -
Poirier is away from the team for the birth of his child. He is likely to return against the Heat in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Robert Williams III (C)	Prob Thurs	Tailbone - 03 / 09 / 20	6-5	5-6	+ -
Williams III is anticipated to take on the Raptors in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference second round despite injuring his tailbone.
Tremont Waters (PG)	Prob Mon	Knee - 26 / 08 / 20	7-6	5-8	+ -
Waters has a left knee sprain, but he is likely to play in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round versus the Raptors.
Javonte Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 20 / 08 / 20	9-6	6-9	+ -
Green is recuperating from surgery to fix a small tear to the meniscus in his right knee, but he is likely to be ready for Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals versus the Heat.
Jaylen Brown (SG)	Prob Wed	Thigh - 18 / 08 / 20	10-6	6-10	+ -
Brown is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a right thigh contusion.
Gordon Hayward (SF)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 17 / 08 / 20	10-7	6-11	+ -
Hayward is sidelined with a Grade 3 right ankle sprain, and it is unclear if he will return to action against the Heat in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals.
Vincent Poirier (C)	Prob Wed	Groin - 16 / 08 / 20	10-7	6-11	+ -
Porier is battling a left groin strain, but he is likely to play in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Romeo Langford (SG)	Prob Mon	Wrist - 13 / 08 / 20	11-7	6-12	+ -
Langford is dealing with a sprained right wrist, but it is anticipated that he will take the court in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 07 / 09 / 20	2-1	1-2	+ -
Ibaka is dealing with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to play against the Celtics in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)	Prob Sun	Knee - 21 / 08 / 20	4-5	2-7	+ -
Hollis-Jefferson is bothered by swelling in his left knee, but he is likely to be active for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Out Fri	Rest - 14 / 08 / 20	6-6	5-7	+ -
VanVleet will receive a day of rest and will not be available against the Nuggets on Friday.
OG Anunoby (SF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 12 / 08 / 20	7-6	5-8	+ -
Anunoby is dealing with with soreness in his right knee, but he is likely to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the Nets.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Mon	Knee - 10 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-9	+ -
Ibaka is bothered by a right knee contusion, but he is expected to play against the Nets in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 10 / 08 / 20	8-6	5-9	+ -
VanVleet missed the last game due to a hyperextended right knee, but he is likely to be available for Wednesday's contest against the 76ers.
Paul Watson (SG)	Doub Sun	Back - 09 / 08 / 20	8-7	5-10	+ -
Watson is dealing with soreness in his lower back, and he is not expected to be in the lineup Sunday against the Grizzlies.
Serge Ibaka (PF)	Prob Sun	Eye - 08 / 08 / 20	9-7	5-11	+ -
Ibaka was forced from the previous game due to an eye laceration, but he is likely to be active Sunday versus the Grizzlies.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (SF)	day-to-day	Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20	11-7	5-13	+ -
Hollis-Jefferson exited Saturday's game with an ankle injury, and his return is in question.
Oshae Brissett (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 31 / 07 / 20	11-7	5-13	+ -
Brissett is expected to be sideline for an extended period due to right knee surgery in order to remove loose bodies.