The upcoming battle between the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors on Monday night at Scotiabank Arena is the kind of game where the talent disparity becomes apparent instantly.
The Boston Celtics are not only the best team in the Eastern Conference, but the NBA as a whole with a 30-9 record. The Raptors, meanwhile, are 12th in the East and catching their breath after a brutal six-game road trip on the West Coast. They went 2-4 on the trip and have lost three straight games.
Bet on Celtics vs. Raptors
BOS -7
TOR+7
There is a lot of ground to cover going into this game, so let’s break down the Celtics vs. Raptors matchup using bet365‘s odds.
Celtics vs. Raptors odds
| Celtics Moneyline Odds | -280 |
| Raptors Moneyline Odds | +230 |
| Over/Under | 243 points (over -110, under -110) |
| Spread | Celtics -7 (-110) |
| Time/Date | January 15, 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Broadcast: TSN4 Stream: NBA League Pass (How to watch the NBA in Canada?) |
All odds courtesy of 
About the Celtics (30-9 SU, 19-18-2 ATS, 21-17-1 o/u)
It may not be possible to talk glowingly enough about the Celtics. They have built a five-game lead over the 76ers for the Atlantic Division lead and are three games ahead of the Bucks for tops in the East.
This may be the first stretch where they’ve had hiccups. Following a run where they won nine of 10 into early January, the Celtics have since alternated between wins and losses. A two-point loss to the Pacers and a blowout loss to the Bucks aren’t great, but few teams can be dominant all season long.
Jayson Tatum is not only the clear leader of the Celtics but also one of the best players in the league. He is eighth in the NBA in points per game (27.4). He also leads the Celtics with 8.3 rebounds per game, is third in assists per game with 4.4, and is even averaging a steal per game (also third on the Celtics).
Forward Kristaps Porzingis is having a quietly great season. He is 11th in the NBA in blocks per game (1.8) and is third on the Celtics with 19.2 points per game. The Celtics are talented, deep, and experienced, making them a tall task for just about any team in the NBA.
About the Raptors (15-24 SU, 20-19 ATS, 23-16 o/u)
The Raptors are bringing up the rear in the Atlantic Division. They are 15 games out of first place and lag a game and a half behind the Brooklyn Nets for fourth. The Raptors aren’t quite as bad as the bottom three teams in the Eastern Conference – the Hornets (eight wins), Wizards (seven wins), and Pistons (three wins) – but there isn’t much separating them from the bottom.
The Raptors aren’t awful offensively – 17th in the NBA at 115.5 points per game – but are 21st in the league defensively, allowing 117.1 points per game. It kind of goes without saying, but you can’t average more points against than for and expect to be very high up in the standings.
After a slow start, new addition (and Canadian) RJ Barrett has shown some fire offensively. Before putting in just four points in a loss against the Jazz, he had ripped off 23 and 24 points in losses to the Lakers and Clippers. He also went off against the Warriors going for 37 points in a 133-118 win. He’s added a spark offensively that wasn’t there previously.
Carrying the standard all season has been the duo of Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes. Both are averaging more than 20 points per game. Barnes leads the team in rebounds per game (8.4) and is second in assists per game (5.7). These two are clear building blocks going forward, although Siakam may be on the way out if the Raptors can recoup a big package.
Consistency is a major issue for the Raptors. They have won no more than two games in a row this year, having achieved the feat just three times. They are in the midst of a three-game losing streak and this feels like an uphill climb going into the game. Getting a win against the best team in the NBA could be what is needed to propel the Raptors on their way to a winning streak.
RJ Barrett over 17.5 points
-115
Injury concerns
Jaylen Brown, who is averaging 23.4 points per game this season, is out for the Celtics with a knee injury.
For the Raptors, there are two names that bear watching. Forward Otto Porter Jr. did not play on Friday against the Jazz, sidelined with a knee injury. His status is unknown going into Monday. Centre Jakob Poeltl is dealing with an ankle injury and will be re-evaluated sometime next week.
Betting trends
- The Raptors have been very good when it comes to hitting the over. They are ninth in the NBA, hitting the over at a 59% rate (23-16). More importantly, they have been on an impressive run. Over their last dozen games, the Raptors have hit the over 10 times. They have done so in their last five as well.
- The last time the Celtics scored less than 100 points was back on Nov. 24 against the Magic. Since then, they have scored 102 points or more in every contest. Coupled with the Raptors’ over/under record, the over should be strongly considered in this one.
- Despite losing four of five, the Raptors are doing quite well against the spread. Though they failed to cover against the Jazz, the Raptors had covered in five of six before that. In their last 10 games, they have covered seven times, pushing their ATS record above .500 (20-19).
Player prop trends
- Barrett has generally had his points prop set for 18.5 since coming to Toronto. In his seven games to date, he has scored 19 or more in four games. He has been largely hot of late (an ugly 2-of-9 shooting performance against the Jazz can just be written off for now), scoring 37, 23, and 24 in three straight games. A larger role with the Raptors could see an improvement in his ppg numbers.
- Tatum has been a machine in all major categories. With a player combo of points, assists, and rebounds set for 39.5, he has been exceptional over his last 10 games. He’s hit the mark in six of 10, including five over his last seven. Last time out, he just narrowly hit the mark, combining for 40 points, assists, and rebounds.
- Barnes has been a staple for the Raptors this year. His points and rebounds combo prop has generally been set around 30.5. Though he ended the calendar year on a streak of three in a row, it has been tough sledding since. He hasn’t gone over the mark in his last seven games, though he did come close on Jan. 9 (29 combined points and rebounds).
Wagers to consider
- Over 243 points: -110. The Celtics are fifth in the NBA in scoring (121.4) while the Raptors are 17th (115.5). Both have been scoring in bunches of late, making the over look very enticing. Given the recent record of the Raptors against the over (five in a row, eight of nine) this one feels like a good bet.
- Barnes under 30.5 points/assists/rebounds: -120. Though Barnes is one of the most important pieces of the Raptors lineup, his struggles can’t be ignored. He hasn’t hit the mark since the new year began and going against one of the best teams in the NBA isn’t exactly a bright prospect.
- Barrett over 17.5 points: -115. Barrett has been something of a revelation of late. He has had 20 points or more in three of his last four games since taking on a bigger role in his new home. Expect the Raptors to get behind early, opening up the opportunity for Barrett to hit his mark.
