The Toronto Raptors take on the Boston Celtics in a virtual must-win scenario for the reigning NBA champions on Thursday evening. The Celtics hold a 2-0 lead after a come-from-behind win on Tuesday, with the Raptors searching for their first win and attempting to avoid a gaping 3-0 hole. Boston continues to operate without Gordon Hayward (ankle), with Toronto's core pieces healthy for Game 3. Tip-off for this 2020 NBA Playoffs matchup is 6:30 p.m. ET from HP Field House in Orlando.
Toronto is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest Raptors vs. Celtics odds from William Hill, up 1.5 points from the opening line. The over-under for total points expected is 217, up three points from the opener. Before making any Celtics vs. Raptors picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it's already returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks this season. It entered the week on a blistering 60-33 run on top-rated NBA spread picks, returning almost $2,400 on those picks alone. It's also a sizzling 10-2 on top-rated picks since the NBA's restart in July. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Celtics vs. Raptors. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA odds from William Hill and trends for Raptors vs. Celtics:
- Celtics vs. Raptors spread: Raptors -2.5
- Celtics vs. Raptors over-under: 217 points
- Celtics vs. Raptors money line: Raptors -140, Celtics +120
- BOS: The Celtics are 7-3 against the spread in the last 10 games
- TOR: The Raptors are 6-4 against the spread in the last 10 games
Why the Celtics can cover
Boston has plenty of offensive firepower, gaining an advantage even against one of the best defenses in the NBA in Toronto. Jayson Tatum, averaging 27.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in the NBA Playoffs 2020, leads the way for the Celtics, with Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown each averaging 19.8 points per game or more. For the full season, the Celtics rank in the top six in turnover rate, offensive rebound rate and points scored per possession, with a top-10 mark in free-throw generation.
Defensively, Boston is also tremendous, with top-six marks in turnover creation, shooting-efficiency allowed and overall defensive rating. The Celtics have a relative weakness on the defensive glass but, against a Raptors team that finished 23rd in the NBA in offensive rebound rate this season, that issue is at least partially mitigated. To this point, Boston has been stingy in allowing just 95.5 points per 100 possessions through two games and, for the postseason as a whole, the Celtics are No. 2 in the NBA in points allowed per possession.
Why the Raptors can cover
The Raptors are in a desperate position, badly needing a win to stay in the series, and Toronto's championship pedigree and experience could be vital with that circumstance in mind. Defensively, the Raptors have done a solid job in the series and, for the full season, Toronto boasts the No. 2 defense in the NBA on a per-possession basis. Nick Nurse's team also ranked No. 2 in shooting efficiency allowed and turnover creation during the regular season, with the Celtics finishing just 18th in the NBA in shooting efficiency.
On the offensive side, the sledding has been difficult for Toronto, but there could be a path to efficiency through free-throw creation and conversion. The Raptors are a top-10 team in the NBA in free-throw rate, with the Celtics struggling as a bottom-10 team in the league in keeping opponents off the free-throw line. Toronto also has balanced scoring options with Siakam, averaging 18.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in the postseason, and Fred VanVleet, averaging 19.2 points and 7.7 assists per game in the playoffs, at the forefront.
How to make Celtics vs. Raptors picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, with Lowry and Enes Kanter projected to fall short of their season-long scoring averages. The model also says one side of the spread hits in more than 50 percent of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Celtics vs. Raptors? And which side of the spread hits more than 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Raptors vs. Celtics spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up over $5,000 on its top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
