This Friday night we have the second matchup between two best teams of the EAST as Boston host Toronto. Toronto have been rolling with the best 12-3 record in the NBA but have lost 2 straight games right now and will look to return to winning form meanwhile Boston have been up and down as they’ve been trying to sort out the chemistry early this season at an 8-6 record. Toronto won the first match up 113-101 at home but now the focus shifts to Boston as the Celtics will seek to get revenge.
Boston Celtics
It’s been an up and down season so far for Boston who are still trying to figure it out with Hayward and Kyrie back in the line-up which has affected everyone’s touches really and players like Brown Horford Tatum Rozier haven’t been able to look like themselves so far this season. Eventually of course they should be able to figure it out but for now Boston are definitely not playing their best ball at 8-6 which isn’t even a bad record, but Boston are way better than that and they know it. There have been potential talks about Hayward coming off the bench but don’t expect that here after Boston put together one of their best games beating Chicago on Wednesday 111-82. For tonight, Marcus Morris is Questionable to play with an illness for what otherwise is a healthy Celtics squad.
Predicted starting line-up – K.Irving, J.Brown, G.Hayward, J.Tatum, A.Horford
Injuries – M.Morris – Questionable
Toronto Raptors
Raptors so far have not only been the best team in the East, but the best team in the NBA in general with a 12-3 record. However, they slightly fell off this week having lost back to back home games to the Pelicans and the Pistons so Toronto will be looking to figure that out and we for sure just see those losses as a little blip and nothing more. Toronto will be without Norman Powell and CJ Miles while Ibaka and Green have been nursing minor injuries but it’s been said that they are going to suit up and play tonight. Ibaka has been one of the biggest revelations this year with his play after having an off year last season for Toronto.
Predicted starting line-up – K.Lowry, D.Green, K.Leonard, S.Ibaka, P.Siakam
Injuries – N.Powell, CJ Miles – Out
Key Facts
Boston are 4-1 at home this season.
Boston have the best defensive RTG in the NBA this season (101). They’re giving up 2nd best 101.9 ppg this season.
However, Boston are just 24th in OFF RTG and only average 105.6 ppg (24th).
After early season struggles, Kyrie Irving is averaging 26.4 ppg in his last 7 games
Toronto Raptors are 5-1 on the road this season.
Toronto’s Kyle Lowry has been in a scoring slump recently averaging just 11 ppg in his last 4 games. However he’s the league leader with 10.7 assists per game this season.
Toronto are one of the most prolific offenses with the 3rd best OFF RTG and 6th highest PPG at 116.5.
Defensively Toronto are just below top 10 with 12th best DEF RTG and 11th best at opp ppg (109.1).
A home team has won 8 straight games between these teams. Boston winning 3 straight at home over Toronto and Toronto winning 5 straight over Boston at home.
Raptors have only held one team under 100 pts this season. They’ve never been held under 100 themselves this season.
Betting Tips and Predictions
Clearly this season Toronto are playing better and have got better chemistry than Boston. Boston are favoured tonight at 1.78 and it’s mostly because they’re at home. Toronto as underdogs seems like a good pick here at 2.15 as for the reason mentioned before. They’re playing better ball right now. We anticipate a playoff atmosphere tonight given the implications that these teams have later in the season and that should lead to a more of a defensive battle so under 218.5 pts does look like a good bet here. Players wise, Kyrie over 21.5 pts should come through given his recent great performances. We expect a close under-ish game with the Raptors coming out on top tonight.
Match Odds (TonyBet)
Boston Celtics Win – 1.78 (Regular Time - 1.84)
Toronto Raptors Win – 2.15 (Regular Time- 2.25)
Overtime – 13.00
Match Start – 17th November 2018 – 12am UK Time
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