MENU
The Toronto Raptors start a four game road trip by paying a visit to the Boston Celtics’ TD Garden on Friday night.
After winning 12 of their first 13 games, the Raptors have lost back to back home games. Meanwhile, the Celtics are off to a slow 8-6 start and have lost two of their last three games.
First Losing Streak Of The Season
After winning 12 of their first 13 games, the Toronto Raptors have stumbled and lost two in a row for their first losing streak of the season. Their last loss came at the last second when Reggie Bullock hit a basket as time expired to give the Detroit Pistons a 106-104 win over the Raptors. Detroit’s victory was a revenge of sorts for Pistons head coach Dwayne Casey whom the Raptors fired after a disappointing 2018 postseason.
The Raptors are 6th in the league in scoring at 116.5 points per game. They also rank 2nd in field goal percentage at 48.8% shooting from the floor. Toronto is also allowing its opponents to score 109.1 points per game which is the 11th best mark in the entire NBA.
Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics 11/16/18
Moneyline Odds: Raptors +103, Celtics -123
Odds from gtbets as of 11/16/18
Slow Start
With LeBron James going to Los Angeles, the Boston Celtics were touted as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. And why not? The Celtics were one win away from eliminating the Cavs in last season’s Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron stepped up and the Cavs won the last two games of the series to eliminate the Celtics. Enter the new season and the Celtics are off to a slow start.
Who Wins?
The Boston Celtics lead the all-time series between these two teams at 52-38 but the Raptors have won 6 out of their last 10 meetings including three out of the last 4. The two teams split last season’s series at two games apiece while the Raptors won their first meeting of the current season 113-101 last October 19th in Toronto.
The main issue for Toronto is health as they are already without CJ Miles and Norman Powell. Danny Green went down with back spasms on Wednesday and is considered day to day. Meanwhile, Serge Ibaka was scratched from Wednesday’s game with soreness in his right knee but is expected to play on Friday. If Toronto gets back Green and Ibaka, the better it will be for them especially against a deep team like Boston.
As for the Celtics, they could miss Marcus Morris who sat out their previous game with an undisclosed illness. Boston has ridiculous depth but despite the brilliance of Brad Stevens, they have yet to show what they are capable of at full force. This could be the game as they hope to even up the season series at one game apiece.
The home team has taken the last 8 meetings between these two teams.and the Celtics are 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS in their last seven games versus Toronto at the TD Garden.
We’re picking the Boston Celtics to beat the Toronto Raptors on 11/16/18.
Other Bets To Make
Toronto is 7-7-1 ATS in their 15 games played this season and 3-2-1 ATS in their 6 road games played so far. On the other hand, the Celtics are only 5-9 ATS in their first 14 games of the season and are 3-2 ATS in five home games played this season. Head to head, the Raptors are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games against the Celtics but Boston is 10-5 ATS in their last 15 home games versus Toronto. The Celtics also won both games at the TD Garden last season.
The Raptors are 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 November games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games against Eastern Conference rivals while the Celtics are 10-2 ATS in their last dozen games against teams from the Atlantic Division but 0-4 ATS in their last four Friday games played.
Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics 11/16/18
Spread Odds: Raptors +1.5 (-109), Celtics -1.5 (-109)
Odds from gtbets as of 11/16/18
Toronto is 5-12-1 in their last 18 meetings in Boston and the home team is 6-0 ATS in the last six meetings between these two teams. Toronto has gotten the better of Boston in their last 10 games but the Celtics have held their own at the TD Garden. I think this is a pretty even matchup just as their first encounter was before the Raptors pulled away late. This is a battle of the Eastern Conference favorites and I expect another close game. But the Celtics play well at home and they want to get that last loss back. They should win this game an cover this minimal spread.
Prediction: Celtics -1.5
The total has gone over in 11 out of the Raptors 16 games played but the over and under are at an even 3-3 in their six road games this season. On the other hand, the under is 8-6 in Boston’s 14 games played this season and also 3-2 in their 5 home games played so far. Head to head, the total has gone under in 8 out of the last 11 games between these two teams and the total has also gone under in 4 out of their last 5 meetings at the TD Garden.
Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics 11/16/18
Over/Under Odds: Over 215 -109, Under 215 -109
Odds from gtbets as of 11/16/18
The Celtics give up the second fewest points in the league and score the 7th fewest points in the league this season. Meanwhile, the Raptors have the 11th best scoring defense in the league although they are the 6th best scoring team in the league. Prior to the 214 combined total these teams put up last month, their previous six games did not hit a total of more than 213 points. The Celtics have always been an excellent defensive team while Kawhi Leonard and Serge Ibaka have preached defense in Toronto. I expect a low scoring affair.
Prediction: Under 215
Miami Heat vs Milwaukee Bucks 04/19/2023 NBA Odds and Prediction
New York Mets vs Los Angeles Dodgers 04/17/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction
Minnesota Twins vs New York Yankees 04/14/2023 MLB Preview and Prediction
OKC Thunder vs New Orleans Pelicans 04/12/2023 NBA Play-in Tournament Odds and Prediction
