Can you believe it? We’re just a couple of days away from the end of the NBA regular season and things are heating up as teams jockey for position for those crucial playoff spots. Two pivotal games in the Eastern Conference are in the cards later tonight with Toronto taking on Boston and Washington squaring off against Indiana.
Read on below for a quick breakdown of these two critical matchups and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New Orleans Pelicans here.
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Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics (7:30 PM ET)
Line: Toronto Raptors (+4) at Boston Celtics (-4); total: 208.0 – view all NBA lines
[sc:NBA240banner ]The Toronto Raptors extended their winning streak to three games with a nerve-wracking 107-104 win over the Miami Heat on Saturday night. Four players scored in double-figures for the Raptors who are now half a game behind the Chicago Bulls for the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a 48-32 slate.
Lou Williams paced the Raptors with 29 points on 9 of 18 shooting from the field. He will look to continue his outstanding form against the playoff-bound Boston Celtics tonight. The Celtics clinched a postseason berth after the Chicago Bulls defeated the Brooklyn Nets on Monday night.
Key to the Celtics’ success this season has been their balanced attack. Six players average in double-figures for Boston with Isaiah Thomas leading the way with over 19 points per contest. The Raptors are 2-1 against the Celtics this season.
You can check out a complete preview of this game here.
Writer’s Prediction
Boston wins, 103-101.
Washington Wizards vs. Indiana Pacers (8:00 PM ET)
Line: Washington Wizards (+7) at Indiana Pacers (-7); total: 192.5 – view all NBA lines
Indiana’s playoff dreams are still very much alive after a thrilling 116-104 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday night. C.J. Miles scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Pacers who survived a 54-point outburst from Russell Westbrook.
With Brooklyn’s loss to Chicago last night, the Pacers (37-43) just need to sweep their two remaining ballgames for them to advance to this year’s playoffs. It definitely won’t be easy though, as standing in their way later tonight in the first game of this critical two-game set are the Washington Wizards.
Washington reached the 46-win mark for the first time since 1978-79 with a 108-99 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night. John Wall looked sharp in his return to the starting lineup, scoring 24 points and dishing out nine assists for the Wizards who remained in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.
The Wizards are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games with the Pacers.
Click here for an in-depth breakdown of this game.
