The Toronto Raptors (12-11, 9-2 Home) will try to slow down the league’s top scoring team when they play host to the Boston Celtics (19-5, 8-3 Away) on Monday. Boston is playing on back-to-back days after topping the Brooklyn Nets 103-92 at Barclays Center yesterday. Jaylen Brown was a top performer with 34 points, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. The Celtics are 1.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks atop the Eastern Conference, currently sitting in first.
Toronto won their third in a row at home on Saturday at Scotiabank Arena, beating the Orlando Magic 121-108. OG Anunoby tallied 32 points to top the scoresheet. With 26 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds, Pascal Siakam also impressed. The Raptors are eighth in the Eastern Conference.
It’s the first meeting of the season between the teams. Boston and Toronto split their matchups last season, taking two apiece. The Raptors took the last meeting 115-112 in overtime at Scotiabank Arena on March 28. Siakam led the Raptors with 40 points and 13 rebounds. Marcus Smart had 28 points and 10 rebounds in the losing effort.
Jayson Tatum and Brown, averaging 30.7 and 27.0 points per game, respectively, have led the Celts in scoring this season. Both are among the NBA’s top scorers, as Tatum is No. 1 and Brown is first. Tatum also has grabbed 8.1 rebounds per game, most in the league. Meanwhile, Smart is dishing 7.7 assists per game.
Anunoby (19.3 ppg), Fred VanVleet (16.8), and Gary Trent Jr. (16.5) have been the primary providers for the Raptors on offense. Anunoby leads the league. VanVleet also has doled out 6.6 assists per game, most in the NBA. Meanwhile, Scottie Barnes has averaged 6.8 rebounds per game. The Celtics are averaging 120.8 points per game, ranking as the highest-scoring offense in the NBA.
The Celtics have had little success at Scotiabank Arena in recent seasons, losing eight of the last 10 visits. Meanwhile, the Celtics are 4-0 this season when playing on consecutive nights and 1-0 in such games against opponents with at least a day of rest.
The Raptors are 1-1 with a rest advantage. In the last 10 games, Boston is 8-2 with an average margin of +11.4 (122.0-110.6). Toronto has split the last 10 (5-5), allowing 110.5 points per game on average while scoring only 109.0 (-1.5 margin).
CELTICS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Marcus Smart: 29.5 | 22.6 | +6.9
Points per game:
Marcus Smart: 16.0 | 11.8 | +4.2
Rebounds per game:
Jaylen Brown: 9.0 | 7.0 | +2.0
Assists per game:
Marcus Smart: 10.0 | 7.7 | +2.3
Jayson Tatum: 2.5 | 4.3 | -1.8
SportsTips’ NBA Pick:
Boston Celtics (-105)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
