Toronto Raptors at Boston Celtics - 10/22/21 NBA Picks and Prediction
Photo by Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics (0-1) vs Toronto Raptors (0-1)
Game Info: Friday, October 22, 2021 at 7:30 pm (TD Garden)
Betting Odds: Boston Celtics -6.5 -- Over/Under: 221 Click Here for the Latest Odds
The Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics duke it out at the TD Garden on Friday night.
The Toronto Raptors are hoping to avoid a second straight defeat to start the season after getting routed by the Wizards in a 98-83 home loss on Wednesday. Scottie Barnes and Fred VanVleet each scored 12 points while OG Anunoby chipped in with 11 points, but no other player finished in double figures in scoring. As a team, the Raptors shot a miserly 30 percent from the field and seven of 34 from the 3-point line as they managed just 37 points in the first half which saw them trail by as many as 29 points in this one. Barnes shot just five of 13 from the field, VanVleet shot just five of 20 from the field while Anunoby shot just three of 17 from the field.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics might still be rueing their missed opportunities after falling just short to the Knicks in a 138-134 double-overtime loss on Wednesday. Jaylen Brown led the way with a game-high 46 points with nine rebounds, six assists and three steals, Jayson Tatum added 20 points with 11 rebounds and four assists on seven of 30 shooting while Robert Williams chipped in with 16 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and five blocks. As a team, the Celtics shot 41 percent from the field and 21 of 57 from the 3-point line but it was the Knicks who closed the game on a 10-3 run in the final 3:45 to steal the game.
Looking at the betting trends, the Raptors are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games, 4-1 ATS in their last five games as an underdog and 0-3-1 ATS in their last four games against a team with a losing record. The Celtics are 1-5 ATS in their last six home games, 2-6 ATS in their last eight games following a loss and 9-19-1 ATS in their last 29 games against a team with a losing record.
Head to head, the over is 4-1 in the last five meetings overall and the Raptors are 3-8 ATS in the last 11 meetings overall.
The Raptors will be eager to put up a better fight in this one after falling flat on their faces in the loss to the Wizards on Wednesday, but it’s a tough ask to invade the TD Garden with the Celtics fresh off a painful double-overtime loss. I expect a better showing from the Raptors in this one, but I just feel that their timing couldn’t be any worse as the Celtics will surely come out firing, especially Tatum who was poor in their loss. The Raptors can make it a fight if they start hot, but they are just 3-8 ATS in the last 11 meetings overall, so I’m taking the Celtics to bounce back in this one.
Peter’s Pick Boston -6.5
AUTHOR: Peter Tran
Mitch's Take...
