NBA: Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics Predictions, Odds for Dec. 29

Raptors vs Celtics Preview

The Raptors (12-18), with their new starting lineup, are in tough tonight, on the road against the first-place Celtics (24-6). Put all the positive spin on this one all you want, but it’s tough to see Toronto emerging from this game with anything close to a win.

Raptors vs Celtics Details

Date: Dec. 29, 2023

Time: 7:30 p.m. EST

Location: TD Garden (Boston, MA)

How to watch: TV: TSN; 

Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto

Raptors Insights

The Raptors are coming off a 132-102 road win Wednesday against the Washington Wizards (5-25), their largest margin of victory all season. That was a game where they introduced a new starting lineup – with emerging superstar Scottie Barnes and his ball-handling skills (plus a 38.9 percent 3PT% for a player they said couldn’t shoot when they Raptors drafted him three years ago) at point guard, PG Dennis Schroder heading the bench, and G Gary Trent Jr. shifting to the starting five. They will come back with that again tonight. 

The Raptors had 43 assists in the Wizards game – one assist shy of the franchise record set earlier this season against Detroit. The Raptors are on the road for eight of the next nine games. Are they a team with a potential championship core – Barnes, F Pascal Siakam, F OG Anunoby – that they can build around, or is tear-down time, bring in draft picks and prospects and build longer term around Barnes?

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Celtics Insights

The Celtics are the NBA’s only team without a loss on home court this season. Let that one settle in a bit. The Celtics are coming off a 128-122 overtime win at home the other night, which handed Detroit their 28^th loss in a row. Detroit had built up a 21-point lead over Boston in the first half, though, and the Celtics had to storm back in the second half. After the game Celtics coaches and players spoke about that slow start, which they said they will correct in tonight’s game against the Raptors. That doesn’t bode well for the Raptors.

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Raptors vs Celtics Betting Odds: Our Picks & Predictions

• ⭐ Moneyline 3.60 (Raptors), 1.31 (Celtics)
• ⭐ Spread +8.5 1.87 (Raptors), -8.5 1.95 (Celtics)
• ⭐ Over/Under 228.5 

The Raptors are heavy underdogs, and for a good reason, going into the Celtics' den, but take them to cover. The team is banking on Barnes growing into that PG role, and if Trent Jr. can prove to be more reliable as a shooter (the potential is there – he’s scored double figures in five consecutive games, averaging 15.8 points with a .492 FG percentage) – they might be on to something. We don’t think they’ll win against the powerhouse Celtics, but they should cover.

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