Boston Celtics: Pregame previews, predictions and more for game vs. TOR

The Boston Celtics are headed home and looking to earn their first win of the season against the Toronto Raptors Friday night.

Both teams dropped their season openers on Wednesday, with the Raptors losing to the Wizards 98-83 and the Celtics losing to the Knicks 138-134 in double overtime.

Boston Celtics are looking to regroup after a tough loss

Boston and New York truly delivered an opening night classic between two historic rivals. The game was a bit sloppy at times but both teams played with toughness and traded big plays with one another down the stretch.

It seemed like the Knicks would walk away with a comfortable win, but a few costly turnovers and a Marcus Smart buzzer-beater sent the game to overtime.

Both teams would eventually run out of gas by the second overtime but the Knicks had just a little bit more in the tank and walked away with the W.

Jaylen Brown was the star performer scoring 46 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and adding six assists. Jayson Tatum struggled to score, dropping 20 points on 7-30 from the field and 2-15 from 3-point land.

Injury report

The Boston Celtics have listed Marcus Smart as probable with swelling in his right knee. Josh Richardson is also listed as probable and will likely make his Boston Celtics debut after missing Wednesday’s opener with a migraine.

Al Horford is listed as questionable (conditioning) as he returns from a COVID-19 related absence.

The Toronto Raptors will be without both Yuta Watanabe (calf) and Pascal Siakam (shoulder).

Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors preview

The Celtics open up as a 6.5 point favorite vs the Raptors.

Boston and Toronto faced off three times last year and the Cs won all three contests.

Despite struggling for long stretches last season, the shamrocks were too talented for the Raptors and won each game by an average margin of 11 points.

Heading into this new season, both teams come into this matchup in the middle of an adjustment period.

The Celtics are adjusting to their new personnel and coaching staff while the Raptors are adjusting to the loss of their franchise cornerstone, Kyle Lowry.

The biggest storyline going into this game is how will Jayson Tatum and Fred VanVleet respond after poor performances in their opening games.

The Celtic’s leading scorer and the Raptors’ second-leading scorer from last season combined to shoot 12-50 from the field, 3-24 from three, and scored just 32 points.

It is unlikely that both scorers will be kept down again and they will both be crucial to their team’s success.

Jaylen Brown will look to carry the momentum he built for himself into tonight’s game.

Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors prediction

The Raptors did not look impressive in their opening game but it is still possible the Celtics will be feeling the after-effects of their double-overtime bout just two nights ago.

Toronto, however, has more questions to be answered after Wednesday’s blowout loss.

Pascal Siakam averaged 21.6 points per game last year and without him or Kyle Lowry in the lineup, they will miss the scoring, playmaking, and defense they add to the team.

Without Siakam in the Raptors lineup, they are also missing one of their key wing defenders who would’ve been tasked with guarding either one of Boston’s All-Stars.

Tatum will likely come out aggressive and make up for his previous performance. Brown may have another efficient scoring game but will come back down to Earth.

The Boston Celtics will look to take advantage of the mismatches for Brown and Tatum, and continue to move the ball as a team (34 assists vs Knicks) to find easy baskets. If the Cs can cut down on the turnovers, (18 vs the Knicks) and Tatum finds his footing, they should win comfortably against a shorthanded Raptors team.

Prediction: Celtics cover -6.5