Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics Prediction, NBA Odds
The Raptors needed some last-second heroics from Immanuel Quickley to eke out a 97-96 win in Charlotte on Wednesday to extend their current win streak to three games, but have historically struggled against the Celtics, posting just one victory in 14 overall meetings since March 2022. The Celtics are coming off a 114-110 loss to Denver on Wednesday, halting an impressive four-game win streak but have avoided consecutive defeats while compiling a 9-3 SU record over their past 12 home dates.
The Raptors travel to Beantown as 8.5-point underdogs on Friday’s NBA odds. The Celtics lead the way as lofty -325 favourites on the NBA moneyline, and the total is pegged at 222.5.
Raptors vs. Celtics NBA Betting Odds
The Raptors were outclassed in their first two meetings with the Celtics this season, falling to defeat by an average margin of 12 points, capped by a 112-96 defeat at Scotiabank Arena on December 20. Things have not gone much better for the club in Boston, where they have surrendered at least 120 points in each of their past three visits and have fallen to defeat by double-digit margins four times during their 0-7 SU run, capped by a crushing 125-71 loss in their last visit to TD Garden in December 2024. However, the Raptors have played steady defence during their current three-game surge, allowing just 104.3 points per game. And have surrendered more than 120 points just twice during their current 8-4 SU run. That has generated steady payouts for Raptors betting fans taking the UNDER, which has gone 9-4 in their past 13 contests. The Celtics has been dominant at times while winning eight of their past 10, averaging 121.2 points per game and posting six victories by double digits. But the Celtics have covered the spread just twice during a 3-2 SU run at home, and are also 2-3 ATS in their past five while favoured at home by eight or more points, a run that features two outright losses.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors will likely need big contributions from their supporting cast if they are to rewrite their losing narrative at TD Garden. In addition to big man Jakob Poeltl, who remains on the shelf with a back injury, it is looking unlikely that Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes will be available on Friday after they both suffered injuries in Wednesday’s victory over the Hornets. The duo have been key to the Raptors’ resurgence this season, with Ingram racking up a team-high 21.8 points and scoring 26+ points four times in six outings prior to Wednesday. Barnes has emerged as a defensive force while leading the club with 8.4 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game. Those injuries open the door for bigger assignments for youngsters Collin Murray-Boyles and Ja’Kobe Walter. Murray-Boyles is coming off a career-best 15-rebound performance on Wednesday and has tallied 12+ boards in three of his past six outings. Walter flashed glimpses of the form that made him a 2024 first-round pick while averaging 14.3 points during a three-game run last month with more minutes.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics blew a fourth-quarter lead on their way to Wednesday’s 114-110 loss to the Nuggets, but still enjoyed another stellar performance from Jaylen Brown. The club’s leading scorer recorded a game-high 33 points while going 4-for-6 on threes and has now picked up 30+ points in 12 of 14 outings since the beginning of December, and in eight of his past nine home appearances. That makes it an easy decision to back Brown as a +120 bet on the NBA player props to score 30+ points against a depleted raptors squad. In addition, big man Neemias is coming off a career-best 20-rebound performance on Wednesday after pulling down 13 boards Monday’s 115-101 win over Chicago, and is worth a value wager as a +550 bet to tally 13+ rebounds again on Friday.
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