Raptors vs. Celtics Betting Line
Gambling911.com has your Raptors vs. Celtics betting line for Tuesday night’s NBA.
Sportsbook.ag Line: Toronto -1.0, Total: 208
The Celtics go for their fifth straight victory when they host a Raptors team that has won three straight Tuesday.
The Raptors went into Miami on Saturday and won 107-104 as 3.5-point road underdogs. Toronto has now won three straight games SU and has covered in two of those games. This team is playing very well defensively over the course of its winning streak, allowing just 92.3 PPG.
The Celtics are even hotter though, winning-and-cover in four straight games after defeating the Cavaliers 117-78 as 10.5-point home favorites on Sunday. Boston has also won-and-covered in six of its past seven games and the team has shot 45% or better from the field in six of its past seven games.
These teams last met on Apr. 4, when the Celtics won 117-116 as 3-point underdogs in Toronto. The Raptors had won-and-covered in the two previous meetings between these teams this season. The Celtics are 3-2 both SU and ATS when hosting the Raptors over the past three seasons and Toronto is 6-5 SU but just 4-7 ATS overall in that time. The Raptors will be fortunate to face a Celtics team that is 87-120 ATS in home games after scoring 105 points or more since 1996. However, they are just 1-8 ATS after three consecutive road games this season themselves.
The Raptors have gotten hot and it’s an excellent time to do so with the playoffs coming up. One reason this team is playing well is that PG Kyle Lowry (17.7 PPG, 6.8 APG, 4.7 RPG, 1.5 SPG) is back from his back injury. Lowry has played in the past two games for this team and is averaging 11.0 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 4.0 APG and 1.5 SPG in those contests. He is very rusty shooting the ball though, going 1-for-13 from the outside since returning. He must find his stroke heading into the postseason. He should get up for this meeting with Boston though, as he’s averaging 27.0 PPG and 5.0 APG in 37.0 MPG versus the Celtics this season.
SG DeMar DeRozan (20.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.2 SPG) has really been playing at a high level recently, averaging 27.2 PPG, 5.0 APG, 4.0 RPG and 1.2 SPG over the past five games. DeRozan is really playing confidently and should keep it up with a matchup with the Celtics, who he is averaging 30.5 PPG against this season.
C Jonas Valanciunas (12.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 1.2 BPG) really needs to start playing better for this team. He fouled out in just 10 minutes of action against Miami last game and has scored just 14 points over the past three games. He needs to start finishing around the rim and can’t commit dumb fouls moving forward.
The Celtics clinched a playoff berth on Monday and they are now in position to finish with the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. PG Isaiah Thomas (16.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, 2.3 RPG) has been the spark for this team. Over the past five games, Thomas is averaging 23.2 PPG and 5.4 APG in 25.6 MPG. He is shooting 51.4% from the field and 41.9% from three in those games and will need to keep it up against Toronto on Tuesday. He had 25 points the last time he faced the Raptors and will need to keep up that production against Kyle Lowry, who didn’t play in the most recent meeting between these teams.
SG Evan Turner (9.5 PPG, 5.4 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.0 SPG) has been asked to run the offense for this team. Turner had 18 points, 10 assists, six boards and three steals the last time he faced the Raptors and must be on his game Tuesday, but also in the playoffs.
C Tyler Zeller (10.2 PPG, 5.7 RPG) is an x-factor for the Celtics. Zeller is a very skilled player, but he tends to disappear regularly for this team. Over the past two games, Zeller is averaging 11.5 PPG in just 18.5 MPG. He had 20 points, nine rebounds and three assists against the Raptors last game and will need to be similarly effective this time around. He also must play some solid defense on Valanciunas.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
