Toronto-Raptors vs Boston Celtics February 25th 2025

At 7:00 ET, the Celtics (-543) will take on the Raptors (+405) in an Eastern Atlantic division matchup. Boston is favored by 11 points, and the over/under line is set at 226.5.

Currently, the Celtics are 41-16 and have won five straight games. They are 2nd in the Eastern Conference, while the Raptors are 13th in the East with a record of 18-39.

Celtics vs. Raptors Key Information

Sport: NBA
Teams: Boston Celtics at Toronto Raptors
Where: Toronto at Scotiabank Arena
Date: Tuesday, February 25th
Betting Odds BOS -11, BOS -543 | TOR +405 O/U 226.5

The Celtics Can Win If…

The Celtics improved to 41-16 on the season with a 118-105 win over the Knicks on Sunday. Boston, favored by 7.5 points, covered the spread, while the combined score of 223 points fell short of the 231.5-point O/U line.

Boston jumped out to a 16-3 lead with an 11-0 run and dominated the 1st quarter, outscoring the Knicks 38-19. New York fought back in the 3rd, winning the quarter 39-25, but Boston closed the game strong, taking the 4th quarter 29-23.

In their win over the Knicks, the Celtics shot 49.5% from the field and hit 17 threes at a 38.6% clip. Jayson Tatum led the way with 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists, despite shooting 40% from the field and 30% from three.

Jaylen Brown added 24 points, scoring 11 in the 4th quarter. Derrick White contributed 19 points, hitting 5 threes at 83.3% efficiency, with 9 of his points also coming in the final period.

Defensively, the Celtics were strong in the 1st and 4th quarters, allowing just 19 and 23 points, respectively, to help secure the win. Despite a rough 3rd quarter where they gave up 39 points, they held the Knicks to 105 points overall, with New York shooting 43% from the field.

Boston limited the Knicks to 14 made threes on 38% shooting from beyond the arc. The Celtics also sent the Knicks to the line 11 times, where they made all their free throws. Boston finished with 37 defensive rebounds, allowed 7 offensive boards, and recorded 8 steals and 5 blocks.

When looking at their past five road matchups, Boston has an ATS record of 4-1 while averaging 117 per game. The team went 5-0 overall in these games.
As the betting favorite, the Celtics have an ATS record of 3-0 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 3-0.
Over their last five games, the Celtics have an over/under record of 2-3 and are 5-0 vs. the spread.

The Raptors Can Win If…

The Raptors improved to 18-39 on the season with a 127-109 win over the Suns on Sunday. Toronto, who were +3 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The total points for the game hit 236, going over the pre-game line of 228.5.

Toronto took control in the 2nd quarter, outscoring Phoenix 38-27. After the Suns closed the gap in the 3rd, the Raptors went on a decisive 10-0 run, extending their lead from 105-94 to 115-94, and finished strong by outscoring the Suns 39-27 in the 4th.

The Raptors’ offense shined in their 127-109 win over the Suns, hitting 20 threes at a 57.1% clip. Overall, they shot 48.9% from the field.

RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and Chris Boucher each scored 23 points. Boucher was key in the 2nd and 4th quarters, scoring 14 in the 2nd and 9 in the 4th.

Even with the Suns shooting 50% from the field, the Raptors held them to 109 points in their win on Sunday. Toronto gave up 25 points in the 1st quarter and 27 in both the 2nd and 4th, with their toughest stretch coming in the 3rd, where they allowed 30 points.

The Raptors excelled in defending the three, limiting Phoenix to just 7 made threes on 25% shooting. Toronto also controlled the boards, giving up only 4 offensive rebounds while recording 6 steals.

In their last three home games, Toronto has averaged 100 points per game while allowing 106. The team’s record in this stretch was 1-2 while going 3-0.
Going back to their last three games as the underdog, the Raptors have a straight up record of 1-2. But, their mark vs the spread was just 1-2.
In their last five games, the Raptors have an over/under record of 5-0 and are 1-4 vs. the spread.

The Lean

The Raptors come in as the underdog at +11, making them our top choice on the point spread. We not only expect them to cover the spread but also believe they have a strong chance of winning the game outright, especially if you’re aiming for a higher moneyline payout.

Regarding the over/under, the current line is set at 226.5, and our model predicts the Celtics and Raptors to score a combined 252 points. We recommend betting on the over.

Raptors Aim to Upset Celtics Again as Atlantic Division Rivals Clash

The Toronto Raptors (23-36) have struggled with consistency this season, but they showed they can still compete with the NBA’s best when they beat the league-leading Boston Celtics (45-12) on Jan. 15.

That 110-97 victory snapped a 10-game losing streak to Boston, and now Toronto has a chance to square the season series at two wins apiece when the teams meet again Tuesday night.

However, the Celtics have been dominant since that loss, winning 13 of their last 17 games and looking every bit like a team ready to contend for an NBA title.

Meanwhile, Toronto has gone 8-8 since that victory, showing flashes of strong play but also dropping six of their last eight games.

With both teams coming off convincing home wins on Sunday, this matchup has the potential to be a physical, high-energy battle between division rivals.

Boston Celtics: Locked in as Playoffs Approach

The Celtics have been nearly unstoppable, going 9-1 in their last 10 games.

Their latest victory, a 118-105 win over the New York Knicks, showed why they are so dangerous.

Boston led by as many as 27 points, but when the Knicks cut the lead to four early in the fourth quarter, the Celtics responded like champions.

“It’s just all about staying poised,” Jayson Tatum said. “We didn’t get that lead in one play, and we’re not going to get it back in one play. Just keep building, making the right plays.”

The Celtics closed the game strong, extending the lead back to 20 points with four minutes remaining.

Head coach Joe Mazzulla emphasized execution over margin of victory.

Key Celtics Players to Watch

Jayson Tatum (26.8 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 4.9 APG) – Had 25 points, 10 rebounds, and 9 assists vs. the Knicks.
Kristaps Porzingis (20.4 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 1.9 BPG) – The Celtics’ rim protector and stretch big.
Jaylen Brown (22.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG) – A two-way force who can take over games.

Boston’s elite balance and defensive versatility have made them the team to beat in the East.

The one blemish? That loss in Toronto last month.

Toronto Raptors: Looking for Another Signature Win

Toronto may not be playoff-bound, but they’ve flashed promise, especially in their 127-109 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Sunday.

They played one of their most complete games of the season, led by:

Immanuel Quickley (23 points, 5 assists)
RJ Barrett (23 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists)
Chris Boucher (23 points, 10 rebounds off the bench)

Scottie Barnes Continues to Shine on Defense

While Barnes had a solid 20 points and 9 rebounds offensively, his defense was the real story.

He held Kevin Durant to just 15 points on 5-of-15 shooting, proving once again why he is one of the most versatile defenders in the league.

“I thought that Scottie set a tone for everybody else,” head coach Darko Rajakovic said. “If you’re watching the game, you see that this guy is elite.”

Chris Boucher Provides a Huge Spark Off the Bench

Boucher didn’t even play in the first quarter, but once he checked in, he changed the game.

Scored 14 points in the second quarter
Hit a crucial three-pointer when Phoenix cut the lead to two late in the game
Finished with 9 points and 5 rebounds in the fourth quarter

With Jakob Poeltl (hip) still out, Boucher and Orlando Robinson will need to step up again against a Boston team with elite size.

What’s at Stake?

For the Celtics:

Prove the loss to Toronto was a fluke
Keep their momentum going toward the playoffs
Improve to 3-1 in the season series

For the Raptors:

Win back-to-back games for the first time in weeks
Show they can compete with top-tier teams
Split the season series with Boston

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Prediction: Can Toronto Shock Boston Again?

Toronto has already proven they can beat the Celtics, but doing it twice in a row is a much bigger challenge.

Boston is playing at a much higher level than they were in mid-January, and Tatum, Brown, and Porzingis should be locked in for revenge.

If Toronto can hit threes at a high clip and get another big game from Barnes defensively, they could keep it close.

However, Boston is too deep, too disciplined, and too motivated.

Toronto-raptors vs Boston Celtics Picks and Predictions February 25th 2025