Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics Spread: NBA Odds, Prediction
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Charlie Grant
The injury-riddled Boston Celtics still have a shot of grabbing the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs if they can beat the Toronto Raptors twice in the next five days. The Dinos pretty much end the race and lock up the top spot in the East with a win at Boston on Saturday.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Toronto hasn’t played since Tuesday when it downed Denver 114-110 but failed to cover as an 8-point home favourite. The Raptors come into Saturday’s tilt riding a season-high seven-game ATS losing streak and their now 40-35 against the number on the season. The Dinos haven’t covered the spread since Mar. 15th at Indiana.
The Raptors are first in the Eastern Conference at 55-20 and three games up on Boston in the standings. A win over the Celtics would increase the lead four games and would tie Toronto’s franchise record for most wins in a season at 56.
The Celtics are on a five-game winning run despite a number of key players missing in action. Boston is coming off a dramatic win at Utah thanks to a Jaylen Brown 3-pointer at the buzzer. The C’s are 52-23 straight up and a league-best 46-27-2 against the spread this season.
The Raptors are 5-1 ATS in their last six games against the Celtics including the last meeting in February when the Raps won by 20 points. The under is 4-0 in the last four games between the Raps and Celtics.
Toronto Raptors
All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan was excused from practice on Thursday to fly home and visit his father who’s not in the best of health. DeRozan is expected to return in plenty of time for Saturday’s game against Boston.
Is DeRozan dealing with an injury of his own? He sat out a game at Orlando a little over a week ago because of a thigh injury and he hasn’t been as aggressive on offence since returning. He’s been held under 20 points in each of his last two games.
Boston Celtics
Kyrie Irving hasn’t played since March 11 and might not be back again this season after undergoing surgery on his left knee. The Celtics are 6-2 straight up and against the spread since Irving went down with the injury.
All-Star big man Al Horford is questionable to play because of the same sore ankle that kept him out against the Jazz.
