Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics Betting Preview

In a limited slate of games Thursday, one notable matchup features two Eastern Conference contenders as the Toronto Raptors (12-13) take on the Boston Celtics (12-11). The Celtics will host this one at the TD Garden with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 pm ET.
After a dreadful start to the season, the Toronto Raptors have turned it on as of late, winning five of their last six. This will be the second game of a back-to-back for the Raptors, but they were able to take care of the first part with a 137-115 win over the Wizards on Wednesday. In the win, Norman Powell (28), Pascal Siakam (26), and Kyle Lowry (21) all eclipsed the 20-point mark.
While Boston will be rested, they will be trying to break a modest two-game losing streak. Most recently, they lost to the Utah Jazz 122-108 on Tuesday. Currently, fourth in the Eastern Conference, they will hope to maintain positioning against a Raptors team that sits just one game behind them in the standings.
The Celtics are the favorite playing at home. The spread currently features Toronto +4.5, while the over/under for total points is 222.5.
By The Numbers
Offensively, Toronto has been the better of the two teams. They currently rank 12th in the NBA in scoring, averaging 113.3 points per game (124 over their last three games). The Celtics rank 19th overall averaging 110.8.
Defensively, it is Boston who holds the upper hand. They rank 6th in the NBA in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 109.8 points per game. Toronto ranks 16th, allowing 111.5 points per game (120.7 over their last three).
Toronto Hopes To Keep Up Pace In East
After starting the season 2-8, many wrote the Raptors off in just the first few weeks of the season. Having gone 10-5 since, they have propelled themselves to 6th in the East and are hoping to keep surging as they sit within just a couple of games of the next three spots ahead of them.
It has really been a balanced attack for the Raptors’ offense. Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Kyle Lowry, and Norman Powell have all gotten into the action.
Siakam and VanVleet are the two highest scorers on the team. Pascal is averaging 20.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. After recently going off for 54 points in a game, VanVleet has pushed his average up to 20.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game.
Kyle Lowry (17.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 6.6 assists) and Norman Powell (16.3 points, 2.7 rebounds) have also been instrumental in the Raptors resurgence.
Celtics Looking To Get Back Healthy And On Track
It has been a tough stretch for the Celtics, not only in their play but in terms of staying healthy. Marcus Smart is out with a calf tear, and both Jaylen Brown and Daniel Theis have been bothered by knee injuries.
For Brown, after missing some time with his knee injury, he returned to the lineup in their loss to the Jazz. While he put up 33 points, reports indicate that the knee may have been giving him some issues late. Obviously, his availability is important to watch for Thursday.
Aside from Brown, the Celtics have been led by Jayson Tatum and Kemba Walker. For Tatum, he is averaging 26.8 points on 46.3% shooting this season. He is also chipping in 6.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
While Walker has only played in 10 games, he has been relatively productive in that span. He is averaging 15 points per game (albeit on 34.2% shooting) while also adding 3.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.
Taking Toronto And The Points
Usually, I almost always go with the rested team when one team is on the second leg of a back-to-back. The problem, though, is that I don’t know how truly healthy the Celtics are.
Brown’s knee injury may still be bothering him, and they lose a lot of their defensive prowess without Smart out of the lineup. I wouldn’t blame you if you took the Celtics at home, but for my money, I like Toronto to at least cover the 4.5-point spread.