Raptors vs. Celtics Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
Thursday is the final day before the NBA’s All-Star break; the All-Star Game and all the usual festivities will be held on just one day this year, Sunday, due to COVID and in Atlanta.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Assuming this game goes off as scheduled with Toronto’s COVID issues, Thursday will be the final meeting of the season between the Raptors and Celtics – although a playoff matchup is possible. Boston won the first two meetings by at least 12 points each and thus already has clinched the season series. That could prove an important playoff tiebreaker for home-court advantage.
Jayson Tatum has averaged 28.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in the two vs. Toronto, while fellow All-Star Jaylen Brown has averaged 15.5 points. Both Tatum and Brown will compete in the All-Star 3-Point Contest on Sunday as well as play in the actual game.
The Raptors, who have no All-Star participants whatsoever, have been led by Pascal Siakam’s 22.5-point average this year vs. Boston, but he won’t play Thursday. Neither will Fred VanVleet, who has averaged 20.0 points and 7.0 assists in the series.
Toronto is 2-8 ATS in the past 10 meetings and the total has gone under is 8-2 in those 10.
Toronto Raptors
Playing without Siakam, VanVleet and OG Anunoby – who have combined for about 42 per cent of the Raptors points this season – as well as head coach Nick Nurse on Wednesday, the Raptors were shocked by the awful Detroit Pistons, 129-105. We say shocked because the Dinos were still 6-point favourites as the Pistons were without their two leading scorers in Jerami Grant and Josh Jackson due to injury. Detroit shot 20-for-41 from deep and its bench combined for 56 points.
Assistant coach Sergio Scariolo gave Yuta Watanabe his first NBA start for Toronto, but he didn’t score in 11 minutes. Norman Powell was a bright spot with 36 points and Kyle Lowry had 21. Jalen Harris and Donta Hall, members of Toronto’s G-League team, were added to the roster for the game but didn’t play. The Raptors are 1-4 ATS in their past five in the second of a back-to-back.
Boston Celtics
Boston appears to have snapped out of about a month-long slump as the Celtics won their third straight game on Tuesday, 117-112 over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers. Boston unquestionably caught a major break there when Clips star Kawhi Leonard was ruled out right before tipoff with back spasms. Jaylen Brown was questionable for the Celtics with a sore knee but played and had 18 points. Kemba Walker had 25 points and Brampton native Tristan Thompson 13 points and nine rebounds. Jayson Tatum struggled with just 14 points on 5-for-16 shooting but hit a few clutch shots late.
Boston remains without starting guard Marcus Smart due to a calf injury, and he won’t be back until after the break. The Celtics are 10-4 ATS in their past four at home.
TOR
BOS