Celtics face Raptors in Toronto to conclude four-game road trip
Boston leads the Eastern Conference at 9-2, while Toronto sits at 5-5 and will be without several key players.
TORONTO · The Boston Celtics visit the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night to conclude a four-game road trip. The Celtics lead the Eastern Conference with a 9-2 record, while the Raptors are 5-5 and sixth in the East. Boston is playing the second game of a back-to-back set after a win in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The Celtics have won four straight games and hold a 3.5-game lead over Toronto in the standings.
Toronto will be severely shorthanded for the matchup. Scottie Barnes, the team's leading scorer at 23.5 points per game, is out with a groin injury. Kawhi Leonard remains sidelined with a knee issue, and Trayce Jackson-Davis is out with an illness. Immanuel Quickley and Collin Murray-Boyles are listed as questionable. For Boston, Paul George is out due to an illness after a strong performance against the 76ers.
Jayson Tatum leads the Celtics, averaging 26.5 points and 7.4 assists per game. Derrick White adds 12.2 points and 5.1 assists per contest. RJ Barrett anchors the Raptors' offence, averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Ja'Kobe Walter contributes 11.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game for Toronto.
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The Celtics have dominated the recent series, winning their last five meetings against Toronto and sweeping all four games last season. Boston holds a 77-43 all-time record against the Raptors and is 32-26 in games played in Toronto. The Celtics are 4-2 on the road this season, while the Raptors are 2-2 at home. Boston ranks fourth in the league with a defensive rating of 106.3, while Toronto is 14th at 112.4. The Raptors are fourth in the NBA with 52.2 points in the paint per game, presenting a key challenge for the Celtics' interior defence. Rebounding will also be crucial, as Toronto leads the league with 20.7 second-chance points per game despite ranking 25th in total rebounds.
The Celtics must also protect the ball carefully against a Raptors defence that averages 22.3 points off turnovers, the second-highest mark in the league. Boston has a 1-1 record so far this season on the second night of back-to-back games. After this contest, the Celtics return home to face the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic before embarking on a West Coast trip. Following Wednesday's game, the Raptors play at Philadelphia on Thursday. Toronto then has a two-game homestand against the New York Knicks. Garbutt Disposal reported last month that Scottie Barnes scored a career-high 41 points in a loss to Orlando.
With files from Yahoo Sports and Fubo