Very unusual scheduling for the Boston Celtics regarding this game. They won in Toronto on Christmas, and while this is the Raptors’ first game since, making it a home-and-home set for them, it’s not for Boston. It hosted a bad Cleveland team on Friday afternoon. Thus, it’s obviously a break for the Dinos that the Celtics will be playing a second game in two days.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

While the Celtics ended an eight-game losing streak in Toronto with the holiday victory, the Raptors have dropped their past six in Boston and are just 12-35 all-time there. Toronto lost at TD Garden 112-106 on Oct. 25. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 25 points, including a clutch 3-pointer late in the game. Jayson Tatum also had 25 points. Kemba Walker had 11 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter in what was his Celtics home debut. Boston shot just 38.5 per cent but Celtics closed the final 9:07 on a 30-17 run.

Toronto hit 47.4 per cent and 50 per cent from deep – rare in the NBA to lose when outshooting your opponent by that much or hitting at least 50 per cent from three-point range. However, the Raptors also were outscored 54-36 in the paint and had 23 turnovers to Boston’s 10. Pascal Siakam scored 33 points and had eight rebounds to lead the Raptors, while Kyle Lowry had 29 points.

Boston has covered seven of the past 10 at home in the series. The over has hit in the previous four.

Toronto Raptors

Being without the injured Siakam, Marc Gasol and Norman Powell could be catching up to the Dinos as they have lost back-to-back games. Wednesday’s 118-102 loss to Boston in Toronto’s first-ever home Christmas game snapped the team’s 34-game home winning streak against Atlantic Division opponents. That intra-division home winning streak was the longest in NBA history. Boston hadn’t won in Toronto since April 4, 2015. Chris Boucher was terrific in the loss as the Canadian big man had 24 points and six rebounds. Fred VanVleet had 27 points but Lowry just 14. He left briefly after a second-quarter fall. Coach Nick Nurse has said he’s considering a change to the starting lineup. That surely means Patrick McCaw heads to the bench, although who might replace him is up in the air.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have been pretty good in the second of a back-to-back this season. The night after beating Toronto on Oct. 25, Boston went to the Knicks and rolled 118-95. The night after losing in Sacramento on Nov. 17, Boston won in Phoenix 99-85. Boston did lose its last in the second of a B2B, 115-109 at home to Philadelphia on Dec. 12. That did go down to the wire. Not clear if Boston will have guard Marcus Smart, one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders, for this one. He hasn’t played since Dec. 6 due to an eye infection and was questionable on Friday. He’s close. Coach Brad Stevens generally doesn’t rest healthy guys in the second of a back-to-back so every other key Celtic should play in this one barring injury Friday.

Who Will Win Raptors vs. Celtics?

Injuries

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

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

Injuries

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.

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.