Boston Celtics (28-11) at Toronto Raptors (9-31) Recreation #40 1/15/25

The Boston Celtics take a fast journey throughout the US-Canada border to face off towards the Toronto Raptors tonight. This will likely be Boston’s third time going through off towards Toronto, profitable the 2 prior matchups. The primary matchup was again in November when the Celtics wanted time beyond regulation and a Jayson Tatum game-winning three to come back out on prime 126-123 at TD Backyard.

Extra not too long ago, Boston and Toronto squared off on New 12 months’s Eve with the Celtics once more defending house court docket with a 54-point thrashing of the Raptors 125-71.

Boston has had combined outcomes these days and gained six out of their final 10 video games. Most not too long ago, they narrowly defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in a recreation that got here all the way down to the wire. After a 3-1 street journey, the Celtics had been shocked at house towards the Kings. Regardless that the Celtics haven’t been dominating as a lot as they did final season, they nonetheless sit firmly in second place simply 5.5 video games behind Clevland in first and three video games forward of the Knicks. Now on Wednesday, the Inexperienced and White will look to place collectively a profitable streak towards a struggling opponent.

The Raptors are recent off of a house win towards Golden State on Monday. Earlier than the sport towards the Warriors, Toronto was on a five-game dropping streak dropping to the Magic, Bucks, Knicks, Cavs, and Pistons. They at present sit thirteenth within the Jap Convention.

Harm information:

The Celtics would not have any gamers listed on the harm report.

For Toronto towards Golden State, Immanuel Quickley missed the sport and was listed with a hip harm. It appears unlikely he’ll be wholesome to play towards Boston on Wednesday evening. Quickley had a recreation to recollect towards the Celtics in years previous when he was a member of the Knicks when he posted a then career-high 38 factors again in 2023.

Key Matchups

Scottie Barnes vs. Jayson Tatum.

Every group’s finest participant is having a powerful season to this point. Barnes, in his fourth season with the Raptors, has elevated his scoring common annually. This season, he’s averaging 20.4 factors per recreation, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per recreation. The whole lot begins and ends with Barnes and if the Celtics can gradual him down, they’ll have a great shot of profitable the sport.

Jayson Tatum leads the Celtics in factors (28.1), assists (5.3), rebounds (9.4), and steals (1.3). The one class he doesn’t lead the group in is blocks. After a formidable marketing campaign final 12 months, it was onerous to think about how far more Tatum might enhance, however he’s doing extra on the glass than he’s ever achieved in prior seasons.

Photograph by Mark Blinch/Getty Pictures

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RJ Barrett vs. Jaylen Brown

The one matchup that I’m curious to observe is Jaylen Brown vs. RJ Barrett. Brown when he’s locked in has been in a position to defend the opposing group’s finest gamers and make them work for each shot. He’ll must be on his A-game towards Barrett who’s been having fun with a profitable season again in his native nation.

Since being dealt to Toronto for OG Anunoby, RJ Barrett has seemed just like the promising prospect everybody coveted after his lone season at Duke College. Barrett is main the Raptors in scoring with 22.4 factors per recreation. The guard missed a number of video games earlier this month on account of sickness however he’s again wholesome and beginning for Toronto.

Photograph By Winslow Townson/Getty Pictures

Celtics bigs vs. Jakob Poeltl

In opposition to the Kings, the Celtics struggled to maintain Domantas Sabonis off of the glass. Sabonis completed with 23 factors and 28 rebounds. In opposition to the Raptors, though he’s not nearly as good of a rebounder as Sabonis, the Celtics will want to verify Jakob Poeltl doesn’t dominate the glass. The Austrian is averaging 14.8 factors and 10.6 rebounds.

It’s going to take a group effort to verify Boston doesn’t lose the rebounding battle.

It’s a recreation on paper the place the Celtics ought to win, nonetheless, the Raptors will likely be feeling assured after their win over Golden State. If Boston thinks they will simply stroll into the Scotiabank Enviornment and go away with one other 50+ level win, they are going to be in for a impolite awakening.