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 high 126-123 at TD Backyard.
Extra lately, Boston and Toronto squared off on New 12 months’s Eve with the Celtics once more defending house courtroom with a 54-point thrashing of the Raptors 125-71.
Boston has had combined outcomes these days and received six out of their final 10 video games. Most lately, they narrowly defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in a sport that got here right down to the wire. After a 3-1 highway journey, the Celtics have been surprised 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 contemporary off of a house win towards Golden State on Monday. Earlier than the sport towards the Warriors, Toronto was on a five-game shedding streak shedding to the Magic, Bucks, Knicks, Cavs, and Pistons. They at the moment sit thirteenth within the Japanese Convention.
Harm information:
The Celtics should not have any gamers listed on the damage report.
Harm Report for tomorrow at Toronto:
No accidents to report
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) January 14, 2025
For Toronto towards Golden State, Immanuel Quickley missed the sport and was listed with a hip damage. It appears unlikely he’ll be wholesome to play towards Boston on Wednesday night time. Quickley had a sport 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.
The Raptors are actually calling Immanuel Quickley’s damage a left groin pressure. He didn’t observe at present and is taken into account day-to-day. Appears unlikely for tomorrow vs Boston.
— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) January 14, 2025
Key Matchups
Scottie Barnes vs. Jayson Tatum.
Every group’s finest participant is having a powerful season to date. Barnes, in his fourth season with the Raptors, has elevated his scoring common annually. This season, he’s averaging 20.4 factors per sport, 8.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per sport. Every part 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 powerful marketing campaign final yr, it was exhausting to think about how rather 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
RJ Barrett vs. Jaylen Brown
The one matchup that I’m curious to look at 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 appeared 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 sport. The guard missed just a few video games earlier this month resulting from sickness however he’s again wholesome and beginning for Toronto.
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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 pretty much 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 sport 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’ll simply stroll into the Scotiabank Area and go away with one other 50+ level win, they are going to be in for a impolite awakening.
