NBA
Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors Preview: Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Wednesday 15th January 2025 Start time: 7:30 pm local time (00:30 am BST) Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Last meeting: December 31, 2024, Boston Celtics 125-71 Toronto Raptors This Eastern Conference matchup between the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics commences on January 15th.
Jayson Tatum//Getty Images
This Eastern Conference matchup between the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics commences on January 15th. This encounter is a tough test for the Toronto Raptors, who go into this fixture as the underdog considering their recent form. The Canadian team have a 1-9 record from their previous ten games and are facing off against the reigning NBA champions. Will the Raptors prevail and produce an upset win over one of the best organizations in the league as of late?
SportsBoom previews this matchup, which consists of an in-depth team analysis, a discussion of our best-value betting picks, a breakdown of key players on each roster, and a review of recent and historical head-to-head matchups.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Boston Celtics: -1786 (1.06) – 94.7%
Toronto Raptors: +700 (8.00) – 12.5%
Forecast odds – betting available on Stake closer to event
Head-to-Head Record
Since the Toronto Raptors joined the NBA, the Raptors and the Boston Celtics have met 114 times previously in the regular season. This fixture is very one-sided, with the Celtics winning on 72 separate occasions.
Due to the nature of the schedule, the Raptors and Celtics meet twice in Boston and Toronto each season. The key talking point shows that the Celtics have lost on only three occasions since the 2019/20 season, therefore winning 18 times out of a possible 21 games.
The dominance doesn’t stop there though, the Celtics are currently on a ten-game winning streak and there is no sign of this changing. Boston produced an incredible performance in their previous meeting on New Year’s Eve, winning 125-71 at their home arena.
Last Five Matches
| Season | Date | Result |
| 2024/25 Season | December 31, 2024 | Boston Celtics 125-71 Toronto Raptors |
| 2024/25 Season | November 16, 2024 | Boston Celtics 126-123 Toronto Raptors |
| 2023/24 Season | December 29, 2023 | Boston Celtics 105-96 Toronto Raptors |
| 2023/24 Season | November 17, 2023 | Boston Celtics 120-118 Toronto Raptors |
| 2023/24 Season | November 11, 2023 | Boston Celtics 108-105 Toronto Raptors |
How is the season so far for both teams?
Toronto Raptors
- Record: 8-29
- Home Form: 7-13
- Road Form: 1-16
The Toronto Raptors are in 14th place in the East and still have one of the worst away records in the entire league. NBA’s sole Canadian team have played 17 games on the road but only picked up one victory. The organization has seven wins at home, however, which gives encouraging signs and provides glimpses that there is a possibility for a strong competitive spirit within the team.
The Raptors’ number one attacker is their shooting guard RJ Barrett. The 24-year-old is posting 23.2 points and 6 assists per game, stats that put him 22nd in the entire league in both areas. The man was born in the city he plays for, Toronto, and therefore understands the importance of representing the badge. These stats put him on course to achieving his career-best numbers.
Alongside Barrett is their primary choice at center, Jakob Poeltl. He is producing his first double-digit numbers of his career concerning rebounds, with 10.6 completed per game. This ranks him on the cusp of the top ten in the league itself, stats that coincide with his best points per game personal bests with 15.0 points completed per game.
RJ Barrett//Getty Images
Boston Celtics
- Record: 16-19
- Home Form: 10-7
- Road Form: 9-10
The Boston Celtics were amongst it until recent form has seen the franchise halt in their bid to win the Eastern Conference in back-to-back seasons. The defending NBA champions are 6-4 in their most recent ten games. While this is a feat that is impressive given the league and its competitive nature, Boston is falling further behind the first seed the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The key to the Celtics’ success is unsurprisingly Jayson Tatum. The 26-year-old is an incredibly important player to the success of the roster. He is the stat leader in points per game, rebounds, assists and steals. The statistics may be marvellous to read, but performing at such a high level has become the usual for the power forward.
Aside from Tatum, the Celtics’ roster is more than stacked in practically every position. Jaylen Brown is the closest to Tatum in points and assists, while their center Kristaps Porzingis is their next leading rebounder. When two players on the same team occupy the top 20 positions in the NBA in shooting efficiency, it is very difficult for any team’s defense to halt them.
Value Bets:
Jayson Tatum: Over 20 Points, Over 7 Rebounds and Over 5 Assists
Jayson Tatum is our first valued bet to focus on considering his abilities. His last five games should be mentioned, as he is posting his best numbers in recent times. He is averaging 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4.8 assists, stats that are higher than his overall career average. Given the impressive form seen this season, Tatum will be optimistic he can replicate his seasonal numbers due to the Raptors’ poor record.
Jaylen Brown: Over 25 Points
SportsBoom shares another Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown. The 28-year-old is posting over 23 points per game in four of his last five games, but impressively produced a double-double in a clash within the 18-months. Brown and Tatum will work in tandem to stop the Raptors thanks to their impressive efficiency on offense.
Prediction: Boston Celtics to win
SportsBoom predicts the Boston Celtics to win this encounter. The Raptors are looking worse for wear considering their current position in the Conference. As mentioned already, the Celtics have won ten previous meetings on the spin and are a heavy favourite for this one. The Raptors will give this game their best shot on their home court, but the Celtics should feel confident about getting the job done.
Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship and earned a Multimedia Sports Journalism degree from UCFB in 2023.
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