The Toronto Raptors (6-5) travel to TD Garden Wednesday to take on the Boston Celtics (4-6). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Raptors at Celtics odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
The Raptors, led by a trio of ultra-talented forwards (rookie Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam) are coming in as underdogs. Siakam just made his season debut, scoring 15 in 25 minutes.
Toronto lost by 13 to the Nets in their last outing. It’s been a season of streaks for the Raptors, having won five straight and now having lost two in a row. They’ll face a Jaylen Brown-less Celtics.
The Cs will undoubtedly depend on G Dennis Schroder and SF Jayson Tatum. Tatum is averaging 23.6 points per game yet is shooting under 40 percent from the field.
Raptors at Celtics odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3:43 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Raptors +110 (bet $100 to win $110) | Celtics -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Raptors +2.5 (-115) | Celtics -107 (-107)
- Over/Under (O/U): 209.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Raptors at Celtics key injuries
Raptors
- None impacting gambling odds
Celtics
- SF Jaylen Brown (hamstring) out
Raptors at Celtics odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Raptors 108, Celtics 104
Money line
BET on the RAPTORS (+110) as the best value in this match.
While Tatum will be the best player on the court, Anunoby, Barnes, and Siakam may be the next three. All three are also above-average defenders which makes it ideal for taking on a Brown-less Cs.
The Raptors have the 10th-best defensive rating. They also have the 14th-best offensive rating. The Celtics are below them in each.
They shouldn’t be underdogs, so get them while you can. With Fred VanVleet running the show and defensive-minded Gary Trent Jr. also on the roster, the Raptors are loaded with talent.
The Raptors also crash the boards hard, ranking first in offensive rebounding rate. The Celtics are in the bottom ten in defensive rebounding rate. Expect the Raptors to dominate the glass and the game.
Against the spread
PASS on the Raptors +2.5 (-115) as I’m not a fan of hanging a couple of points on the underdogs. I’d rather go straight for the money line here as it provides plus-money value.
Over/Under
“LEAN” on the OVER 209.5 (-110) as the better of two sides.
The Raptors are 10th and the Celtics are 12th in defensive rating. The Cs, with veteran Al Horford down low and Marcus Smart on the perimeter, have top-tier defenders.
Also, both teams rank in the bottom half of the league in pace with the Raptors second to last. With that in mind, this should be a close, half-court heavy matchup.
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