Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics, NBA 2024-25 Season, Today Match Prediction

Teams Preview

Toronto Raptors Preview

The Raptors ended January going on a 5-game winning streak, since then the Raptors have won just 3 games from their last 9 games. The Toronto Raptors hold an 18-39 record placing them 13th in the Eastern Conference and last in the Atlantic Division.

The Raptors average 110.9 points per game, ranking 22nd in the league. Although the team ranks 22nd offensively, they do manage to dish out a significant number of assists at 28.6 assists per game ranking them 9th overall. Their shooting efficiency is 53.3% for two-point shots and 35% for three-point shots. They acquire 43.9 boards at an average ranking them 19th overall, which has been a backward step considering they were once inside the top 10 ranked teams rebounding-wise. Unfortunately, their defensive performance needs improvement, as they allow an average of 116.4 points per game, placing them 25th in the league for points allowed. Key players include Scottie Barnes and R.J. Barrett, who leads the team in scoring and playmaking. Barnes makes significant contributions on both ends of the court, while Barrett plays a crucial role in defense. Rookie Gradey Dick out of Kansas has been a positive for the rebuilding Raptors side as he currently averages 14.9 points per game.

On the injury list, the newly acquired Brandon Ingram and Jakob Poeltl have been sidelined due to injuries. Ulrich Chomche with a partial proximal MCL tear in his right knee will miss the remainder of the season. The Raptors will likely start with the following lineup: Immanuel Quickly at point guard, R.J. Barrett at shooting guard, Ka’Kobe Walter at small forward, Scottie Barnes at power forward, and Orlando Robinson at center.

Boston Celtics Preview

The Boston Celtics have been phenomenal, recording 9-1 in their last 10 games. Currently, the Celtics are in 1st place in the Atlantic Division and 2nd in the Eastern Conference, boasting a season record of 41-16, the third-best in the league. 

On offense, the Celtics are averaging 117.4 points per game, ranking as the third-best offensive team in the Eastern Conference, just behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks, and ranking 6th overall in the league. They also average 45.3 rebounds and 26 assists per game, ranking them 8th and 17th respectively, which are considered average figures for the season. The six-time all-star Jayson Tatum is leading the team in scoring, averaging 26.8 points and 5.7 assists per game. Defensively, Tatum averages 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Jayson Tatum holds the record for most points scored in an all-star game(55), most points scored in a game 7 of any NBA playoffs series(51) and most points scored in the NBA playoffs at his age. Jaylen Brown the other all-star from the Celtics roster averages 22.9 points, 6 rebounds 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals a game while Derrick White contributes with 1.1 blocks per game. The Boston Celtics have all their starters in the double figure in terms of points scored and have six players in total averaging more than 10 points per game. The Celtics excel in three-point shooting, maintaining an efficiency of around 36.7%. Their focus on ball movement is evident in their average of 26 assists per game, and their strong two-point field goal percentage demonstrates their effectiveness in scoring near the basket.

With no injury reports for the Boton Celtics, their starting lineup should include Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, and Kristaps Porzingis. Payton Pritchard has been prolific coming off the bench and is in contention for the sixth-man of the year award. 

Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics Starting Lineups