Both the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors are undefeated after their first-round assignments in the playoffs. Only one can keep it up this Thursday, though, as they meet for their Game 1 matchup in the second round. Check out our preview of this game below.
The Celtics made quick work of the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, sending Joel Embiid and company out of the Orlando bubble in just four games. The duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was too much for the Sixers, as the two were great on both ends of the floor. Tatum led the Celtics in the first round with 27.0 points per game, while Brown produced 21.5 points per contest. In the middle of the two in the scoring department is Kemba Walker, who has really come on of late. Walker has averaged 28.0 points on 51.4 percent shooting from the field and 41.2 percent shooting from deep over the last two games. The Celtics won’t have Gordon Hayward likely for the rest of this second-round series, with the forward returning home to nurse an ankle injury he sustained in the Philly series. The Celtics are 3-1 so far this season against Toronto. Boston won the most recent meeting on Aug. 7 in the bubble, 122-100.
The Celtics are 6-4 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
Like the Celtics, Toronto swept its matchup in the first round, as the Raptors needed just four games to dispose of the Brooklyn Nets. Toronto rook advantage of Brooklyn’s tattered roster, especially in the frontcourt. Serge Ibaka was arguably the best Toronto player in that series, as he muscled his way through to average 19.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Of course, Fred VanVleet has something to say about being the best Raptor so far in the playoffs, as he led his team with 21.3 points per game against the Nets. VanVleet might have to do more in the second round, with Kyle Lowry not expected to play in Game 1 against Boston. Lowry is dealing with an ankle sprain. The Raptors’ bench can also fill in for what the team will be missing from Lowry. Toronto’s second unit averaged 56.5 points per game in the first round, the most by any bench in the playoffs so far.
The Raptors are 7-3 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
