The Boston Celtics gave the Toronto Raptors hope in their last-second Game 3 loss on Thursday night — will Toronto find a way to defy the odds and tie the series, or will Boston put the clamps on and take care of business?
Game 4 looms as a critical juncture in this Eastern Conference Semifinals series, which may come down to something as simple as which team wants it more.
The Celtics have for the most part looked like the better team, but defensive lapses and lower-energy stretches were enough for the Raptors to steal a game Thursday. Tonight we find out whether that theft was an aberration — or a momentum shift.
Both teams are relatively the same on the injury front, with Toronto free of them and Boston still sans veteran guard Gordon Hayward (ankle), guard Tremont Waters (knee), wing Javonte Green (knee) and center Vincent Poirier, absent for the birth of a child (congrats!).
How to watch or stream Boston Celtics-Toronto Raptors Game 4, Round 2 https://t.co/loUlY4M7Ri
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) September 5, 2020
No major changes happened on either side apart from a bit more zone from the Raptors and an Enes Kanter sighting on Boston’s end that isn’t likely to be repeated for long in this game if at all.
With no expectations of shifts in rotations or schema, this is likely to be another lower-scoring affair with a very motivated Boston, so we’re predicting a 108-100 win for the ‘home’ team. Most online sportsbooks still disagree however, continuing to grant Toronto a slight edge with a -1.5 spread.
Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, with TNT the national broadcaster; check this article for other viewing alternatives.
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