The top two teams in the Atlantic division are about to throw it down at Disney World this coming Friday, with the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors each looking to collect a win at the expense of the other. Check out our preview of this game below.
The Celtics unloaded on the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in a 149-115 win. Whether they admit it or not, the Celtics didn’t seem to take that game as they would a playoff game, with the likes of Robert Williams III, Brad Wanamaker, and Romeo Langford all getting way more minutes than their average. After all, the Celtics were only up against a Brooklyn team that’s missing its brightest stars. Nevertheless, the Celtics took care of business, shooting over 56 percent from the field and hitting 20 of 30 shots from behind the arc. Kemba Walker sat out the Nets game, as he’s yet to get clearance to go back-to-back. But expect the cat-quick point guard to return to action this Friday when Boston meets Toronto. Walker has played in all of Boston’s last three games against the Raptors, leading the team in those matches with 24.7 points. Jayson Tatum should also come in fresh on Friday after playing just 18 minutes against Brooklyn.
The over is 4-0-1 in the Celtics’ last five games.
Toronto is on another plane right now. The Raptors have been playing like a well-0iled machine despite the long break. Dating back to March, the team has won all of their last seven games, including last Wednesday’s 109-99 victory over the Orlando Magic. Fred VanVleet continues to prove that he’s no one-trick pony, as the former Wichita State Shockers star stuffed 21 points down the throat of the Magic after slapping Miami with a 36-point performance last Monday. VanVleet has shot over 40 percent from deep in each of his last three games, coming up with 12 threes over that stretch. VanVleet’s performance of late is only making Toronto a harder team to defend, with opponents still needing to put much focus on other Raptors like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, Kyle Lowry, and Serge Ibaka. Speaking of Lowry, the veteran guard scored 30 points in Toronto’s 113-97 win against Toronto last December.
The Raptors are 4-0 against the spread in their last four games.
