In the National Basketball Association, two Eastern Conference teams will mix it up north of the border. The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors are set to tip off the second half of their schedule. The Boston Celtics come into the game as the second best team in the Eastern Conference. Boston is 37-20 overall, but are coming off a loss to the Chicago Bulls before the break.
The Toronto Raptors are fourth in the Eastern Conference, just behind the Wizards. Toronto comes into the game with a 33-24 record. The Raptors finished up the first half of the season with a win over the Charlotte Hornets. The Raptors come into the game as a slight underdog. Toronto is +2.5 in this game at home against the Boston Celtics in the NBA lines.
Boston at Toronto Betting Pick, Prediction & TV Info
When: Friday, February 24, 2017. 8pm ET.
Where: Air Canada Centre
TV: ESPN
Radio: Boston / TorontoStream Option: NBA.tvOdds: Toronto at +2.5
Why Bet on the Raptors?
The Toronto Raptors have got to find a way to grab their identity back. The Raptors started hot, but have really struggled as of late. The best news is the Raptors have been good in divisional play. Toronto has gone 10-2 in divisional games. The Raptors come into the game four games back of the Celtics in the Atlantic Division, and 10 ahead of the Knicks.
Toronto’s top scorer has been DeMar DeRozan, but he has been marred with injuries as of late. DeRozan is scoring more than 27 points per game, while Kyle Lowry is also adding nearly 20 per game. Lowry is dishing out nearly 7 assists per game. The Raptors won 56 games last season, therefore they would need to win 23 out of their final 25 to tie.
Why Bet on the Celtics?
The Boston Celtics are climbing the Eastern Conference standings due in large part to their point guard play. Isaiah Thomas has been fantastic for Boston, scoring nearly 30 points per game, and dishing out 6 assists. The Celtics are 6th in all of the league with more than 108 points per game. The Celtics are third in the league with 25 assists per game.
The Celtics are going to bounce back in wins for the fourth straight season. Boston won 48 games last season, and they need just 12 out of 25 to beat that this season. Boston played some of their best basketball just before the break, winning 11 out of 12 games, with the lone loss on the road at the Sacramento Kings.
Betting Pick & Score Prediction
The Boston Celtics are ready for a huge second half of the season. Toronto has struggled as of late, and Boston is surging. Sure, the loss to the Bulls was a bad loss before the break, but they are playing good basketball. Look for Isaiah Thomas to take advantage of the guard play for Toronto in an effort to lead the Celtics to a road win.
The Raptors are going to have to figure a few things out heading into the last two months of the season. Last season the Raptors were the second seed, and they are in danger of falling to fifth this season. Toronto will lose this game, which is a bad start to the second half. Take the Boston Celtics -2.5 over the Toronto Raptors on Friday.
