Boston Celtics vs. Toronto Raptors: Betting Preview & Key Storylines

Date: February 24, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

The Boston Celtics (42-14) take on the Toronto Raptors (22-35) in an Eastern Conference matchup as both teams look to gain momentum. The Celtics, sitting at the top of the East, are vying for home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, while the Raptors are trying to stay competitive in the Play-In race.

Betting Odds & Spread (as of the latest sportsbook data)

• Spread: Celtics -8.5
• Over/Under: 224.5 points
• Moneyline: Celtics -350 | Raptors +275

Key Storylines to Watch

1. Celtics’ Dominance and Championship Aspirations

Boston enters this matchup as one of the NBA’s most well-rounded teams, ranking top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics have been an elite force all season, with a deep bench providing additional firepower.

A key factor will be the three-point shooting—Boston ranks near the top of the league in both attempts and efficiency. If they get hot from beyond the arc, the Raptors could struggle to keep up offensively.

2. Raptors’ Post-Trade Deadline Adjustments

After moving on from OG Anunoby and Pascal Siakam, the Raptors are in a transition phase, building around Scottie Barnes and newly acquired pieces. RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley have provided scoring depth, but Toronto has struggled defensively since the roster shake-up.

The Raptors’ success tonight hinges on their ability to slow down Boston’s perimeter game and create offense through transition opportunities. If they can turn this into a physical, scrappy game, they may have a chance to keep it close.

3. Injury Updates

• Boston Celtics: Kristaps Porziņģis (questionable – knee), Jrue Holiday (probable – illness)
• Toronto Raptors: Jakob Poeltl (out – ankle), Gary Trent Jr. (questionable – hamstring)

Porziņģis’ potential absence could impact Boston’s interior presence, but the Celtics’ depth should be enough to compensate. Meanwhile, without Poeltl, Toronto could struggle to contain Boston’s size advantage in the paint.

Key Matchups to Watch

• Jayson Tatum vs. Scottie Barnes – A battle of two versatile forwards, with Tatum’s scoring ability going up against Barnes’ defensive intensity.
• Jaylen Brown vs. RJ Barrett – Two aggressive scorers who will look to exploit matchups on the wing.
• Celtics’ Perimeter Defense vs. Raptors’ Transition Game – If Toronto can force turnovers and push the pace, they may keep this close.

Betting Trends to Consider

• Celtics ATS Record: Boston is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games.
• Raptors ATS Record: Toronto is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games as an underdog.
• Over/Under Trends: The Over has hit in 4 of the last 6 meetings between these teams.

Final Prediction

The Celtics have too much firepower and depth for the Raptors, especially with Toronto missing key pieces in the frontcourt. Unless the Raptors can dictate the tempo and make this a grind-it-out game, Boston should pull away late.

Prediction: Celtics win, covering the spread, with a strong defensive performance.