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Boston Celtics vs Toronto-Raptors December 31st 2024
At 3:00 ET, the Raptors will be in Boston to take on the Celtics in a division matchup. The Celtics are favored by 17 and the over/under line is sitting at 233.5.
Toronto is currently on a 10-game losing streak and has a record of 7-25. The Celtics are 2nd in the Eastern Conference and have a record of 23-9.
Raptors vs. Celtics Key Information
- Sport: NBA
- Teams: Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics
- Where: Boston at TD Garden
- Date: Tuesday, December 31st
- Betting Odds BOS -17, TOR +941 | BOS -1713 O/U 233.5
The Raptors Can Win If…
The Raptors fell to 7-25 on the season after a 136-107 home loss to the Hawks on Sunday. Toronto, who were favored by 1 point, not only lost but also failed to cover the spread. The over/under line was set at 242.5, and the teams combined for 243 points.
Toronto trailed 35-25 after the 1st quarter but showed some fight in the 2nd, outscoring Atlanta 33-29. However, the Hawks pulled away in the 3rd, outscoring the Raptors 40-24, and Toronto couldn’t mount a comeback in the 4th, where they were outscored 32-25.
In their 136-107 loss to the Hawks, the Raptors struggled offensively, shooting just 44.7% from the field and 29.2% from three-point range, making only 7 threes in the game. Scottie Barnes led the way with 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, hitting 58.3% of his shots.
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RJ Barrett added 17 points despite shooting 38.5%, while Jakob Poeltl contributed 13 points, connecting on 62.5% of his attempts. Barnes scored 8 of his 19 points in the opening quarter, while Poeltl added 8 of his 13 points in the 3rd.
The Raptors struggled defensively against the Hawks, giving up 136 points on 48% shooting. Toronto allowed 35 points in the 1st quarter and 40 in the 3rd, with Atlanta scoring at least 29 points in every period.
From beyond the arc, the Raptors allowed the Hawks to hit 18 threes on 40% shooting. Toronto also sent Atlanta to the line 35 times, where they made 26 free throws. The Raptors finished with 10 steals and 4 blocks.
- Across the Raptors last three road games, the team averaged 118 points per game while allowing 136. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 1-2, while going 0-3 straight-up.
- Spanning across their last ten games as the betting underdog, the Raptors have gone 6-3-1 vs the spread. Their overall record in these games was 2-8.
- Over their last three games, the Raptors have an over/under record of 3-0 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.
The Celtics Can Win If…
The Celtics fell to 23-9 on the season after a 123-114 home loss to the Pacers on Sunday. Boston was favored by 10.5 points but failed to cover the spread, losing by nine. The game’s total of 237 points went over the pre-game line of 231.5.
Boston led 29-27 after the 1st quarter, but Indiana took control with a 38-point 2nd quarter. The teams played evenly in the 3rd, each scoring 33 points. The Pacers went on a decisive 13-0 run in the 4th, extending the score from 107-103 to 116-107.
In the Celtics’ 123-114 loss to the Pacers, Jaylen Brown led the way with 31 points, including 12 in the opening quarter. Jayson Tatum added 22 points, with 12 coming in the 3rd, while Payton Pritchard contributed 21 points, scoring 13 in the 2nd quarter.
Boston struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 29.6% of their threes, making 16 overall. Brown shot 61.9% from the field, and Pritchard connected on 5 threes at a 62.5% rate.
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The Celtics struggled defensively in their game against the Pacers, giving up 123 points on 52% shooting. Their toughest stretch came in the 2nd quarter, where they allowed 38 points. They did manage to tighten up in the 4th, holding the Pacers to 25 points.
Boston did a good job defending the three, as Indiana hit just 9 threes at a 39% clip. The Celtics also recorded 6 steals and 6 blocks, but they sent the Pacers to the line 27 times, where they made 22 free throws.
- Although Boston has a straight up record of 3-2 in their last five home games, they have not held up as well vs. the spread going 1-4. The team averaged 117 points per game in these games.
- Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the favorite, the Celtics have a straight up record of 5-5. Their record vs the spread in these games was 3-7.
- In their last three games, the Celtics have an over/under record of 3-0 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.
The Lean
When looking to get a point-spread pick down in this Raptors vs. Celtics game, our recommendation is to take the Raptors at +17. Despite our model showing the Celtics winning 141-125, we like Raptors as our point-spread pick.
Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 233.5 and given that our model is projecting 266 points between the teams, we like the over.
Celtics Seek Better Defensive Effort vs. Reeling Raptors
The Toronto Raptors head into Tuesday’s afternoon game against the Boston Celtics desperate to snap a 10-game losing streak. Toronto’s struggles have been amplified on the road, where the team holds a dismal 1-14 record this season. Meanwhile, the Celtics are also facing challenges, having lost four of their last six games.
Raptors Struggling for Answers
Toronto’s woes reached a new low in Sunday’s 136-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, where they committed a season-high 31 turnovers. Forward Scottie Barnes highlighted the team’s lack of defensive effort and urgency.
“We just have to be better defensively, guard the ball better, help each other more,” Barnes said. “This isn’t fun losing games by 30. This isn’t who we are, and we can’t just keep allowing it to happen.”
The Raptors are inching closer to full strength. Center Jakob Poeltl returned Sunday after a four-game absence due to a groin strain, and forward Bruce Brown made his season debut following offseason surgery. Rookie guards Jamal Shead and Ja’Kobe Walter also returned, though Immanuel Quickley remains sidelined with an elbow injury.
Toronto’s last victory came on Dec. 3, a 122-111 win against Indiana, and they hope to regain their form to avoid another blowout loss.
Celtics Searching for Defensive Intensity
Boston has encountered its own setbacks, including a 123-114 loss to Indiana on Sunday. The Celtics have dropped three of their last four home games and have shown noticeable lapses on the defensive end.
“We’ve got to get back to emphasizing the defensive side of the ball,” said Jaylen Brown. “Teams are pressuring us and being physical. We’ve got to find ways to get more stops and be more consistent protecting the basket.”
The Celtics have been playing without Jrue Holiday (shoulder) for three games and Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) for two, limiting their defensive and offensive versatility.
Despite the rough patch, Jayson Tatum emphasized the need for resilience. “Winning in the NBA is hard,” Tatum said. “Nobody’s panicking or anything like that. We just gotta be better.”
A Look Back: Celtics vs. Raptors in November
Tuesday’s matchup marks the second meeting between these teams this season. The Celtics edged the Raptors 126-123 in an overtime thriller on Nov. 16, with Tatum sinking a buzzer-beating 3-pointer. Tatum finished that game with 24 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, while Poeltl led the Raptors with 35 points on an efficient 16-of-19 shooting night.
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What to Watch For
Both teams are looking to rediscover their defensive edge. Toronto’s returning players, including Poeltl and Bruce Brown, will aim to stabilize a shaky lineup. For Boston, the potential return of Holiday or Porzingis could provide the spark needed to reignite their home-court dominance.
With both squads eager to right the ship, the game promises to be a hard-fought battle as the Raptors try to end their skid and the Celtics seek to regain consistency.
