[gambcom-standard rankid=”4141″ ]
The Toronto Raptors (7-25) and Boston Celtics (23-9) meet on New Year’s Eve. Tip-off from TD Garden is set for 3 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Raptors vs. Celtics odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Boston leads 1-0
Toronto lost 136-107 vs. the Atlanta Hawks Sunday as a 1-point home favorite. The Raptors committed 31 turnovers and allowed the Hawks to shoot 40% from deep; Toronto shot just 29.2% from beyond the arc. The Raptors have allowed at least 136 points in each of their last 3 losses.
Boston’s uncharacteristic rough stretch — it’s 2-4 in its last 6 games — continued with a 123-114 loss as a 10.5-point favorite vs. the visiting Indiana Pacers Sunday. Boston struggled from deep, with F Jaylen Brown, F Jayson Tatum and G Derrick White combining for just 6 of 31 (19%) from 3-point range.
Raptors at Celtics odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of NBA odds. Lines last updated at 1:15 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Raptors +1100 (bet $100 to win $1,100) | Celtics -2500 (bet $2,500 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Raptors +16.5 (-105) | Celtics -16.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 232.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
[gambcom-standard rankid=”4132″ ]
Raptors at Celtics key injuries
Raptors
- G RJ Barrett (illness) out
- G Gradey Dick (hamstring) questionable
- G Davion Mitchell (illness) questionable
- G Immanuel Quickley (elbow) out
Celtics
- G Jrue Holiday (shoulder) questionable
- C Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Raptors at Celtics picks and predictions
Prediction
Celtics 122, Raptors 114
Moneyline
PASS.
The Celtics will pick up the win here as -2500 favorites, but such heavy favorites are never worth the risk of betting on. Bet the spread and/or O/U instead.
Against the spread
BET RAPTORS +16.5 (-105).
Toronto has covered the spread in 3 of the last 4 meetings between these teams and is 19-12-1 ATS this season, much better than Boston’s 12-20 ATS record.
Be aware that this is the perfect opportunity for Boston to get out of its slump and regain its confidence, so the Celtics could aim to blow out the Raptors.
Over/Under
LEAN OVER 232.5 (-115).
The Over has hit in 3 straight Celtics games and is 3-0-1 in Toronto’s last 4. The Over has also hit in 2 of the last 3 meetings.
Toronto’s recent defensive struggles — it’s 30th in defensive efficiency over the last 3 games — make the Over a much safer bet here.
This is a lean because the Under is 6-4 in Boston’s last 10 games overall and 6-3-1 in the last 10 meetings.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”6305″ ]
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow @payton_shanks on Twitter/X. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter/X and like us on Facebook.
Access more NBA coverage:
HoopsHype | Bulls Wire | Celtics Wire | Nets Wire | Rockets Wire | Sixers Wire | Spurs Wire | Thunder Wire | Warriors Wire | LeBron Wire | Rookie Wire | List Wire
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1368]