Following a big home win over Cleveland, the Boston Celtics’ magic number to make the playoffs was reduced to one. They have a tough assignment next when the Toronto Raptors roll into town. The Raptors lead the season series 2-1, but can the surging Celtics even the score? Read on as we break down this big Eastern clash.
Get some more Eastern flavor heading into the playoffs. Check out our complete preview for Tuesday’s Wizards vs. Pacers.
There’s plenty of talent in Toronto’s backcourt. The Raptors have the one-two punch in the starting lineup with Kyle Lowry (17.7 points and 6.8 assists per game) and DeMar DeRozan (20.1 points per game) who can both explode at any given time to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.
[sc:NBA240banner ]The Raptors are still well-taken care off even with the two on the bench. Lou Williams has done an outstanding job as Toronto’s backup shooting guard. He’s averaging 15.5 points per game this season and recently exploded for 29 points in a 107-104 road win over Miami on Saturday.
Williams shot 9-of-18 from the field, including 4-of 7 from three-point range, at Miami. He’s had a couple of big games against Boston, averaging 23 points on 45 percent shooting in two meetings at Toronto this season. But he scored just 11 points in his lone visit to TD Garden in November 2014.
With Williams struggling, Lowry and DeRozan each had big games at Boston. Lowry scored 35 points on 12-of-17 shooting, while DeRozan struggled from the field (9-of-25) but finished with 23 points and six assists.
Lowry has struggled to regain his All-Star form, scoring a total of 22 points on 27 percent shooting in two games after missing time due to injury. But DeRozan cannot be any hotter, averaging 27.2 points in his last five. DeRozan dropped 38 points in his last game against Boston on April 4, a 117-116 home loss.
The Raptors have won four of their last five games on the road, going 3-2 against the spread.
Betting on the Boston Celtics
Win one more game and the Boston Celtics are assured of a playoff berth. They have a 117-78 rout of a short-handed Cleveland on Sunday to thank for that. With Cleveland starters J.R. Smith, LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love all sitting out, the Celtics had their fifth-highest scoring game this season and also set a league-high 20 steals.
Evan Turner and Marcus Smart each had four steals against the Cavaliers. The two should be able to pester Toronto’s top two scorers DeRozan and Lowry, who also happen to lead the team in turnovers with 2.3 and 2.5 per game respectively. The two can shoot as well. Turner scored 18 on 9-0f-17 shooting in an April 4 road win at Toronto, while Smart had 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
The Celtics do the bulk of their damage with Isaiah Thomas off the bench. Thomas is scoring 23.2 points per game in his last five games, including a 25-point effort to lead all Boston scorers in the road win at Toronto.
The Celtics could also do some damage on the frontcourt especially after seeing Toronto give up 54 points in the paint at Miami on Saturday. Centers Tyler Zeller and Kelly Olynyk had some success against the Raptors’ less-than-stellar big men in their April showdown at Toronto. Zeller scored 20 on 8-of-10 shooting, while Olynyk had 16 points.
Boston has won eight of its last 10 home games against Toronto, going 7-2-1 ATS.
Writer’s Prediction
The Celtics win big over Toronto. Create a betting account now and cash in on the exciting basketball action to come.
