We are now beyond the midway point of the NBA season and we have to say that the current standings are a little different than what we expected them to be. Perhaps the biggest surprise is not the teams that have worked their way to the top in both conferences, but rather the struggles of the teams that we expected to be there. In the Western Conference, the defending conference champion Houston Rockets are currently trying to dig themselves out of the early hole that they put themselves in at the start of the season.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics are sitting off the pace and struggling to find a consistent level of play that would move them closer to the top spot. They will have the opportunity to make up some ground on Wednesday night when they welcome the conference leaders, the Toronto Raptors, into the Garden. It’s a battle of the heavyweights and one that the bookies have as a close one, with the Celtics in as a 2.5-point home favorite. The point total for this match-up has been set at 223 ½.
Raptors at Celtics NBA Odds, Preview & Prediction
Gonna be a helluva game tonight.
📺 | https://t.co/U1A3E2IztS pic.twitter.com/4d9EN4fJzI — Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) 16 de enero de 2019
- When: Wednesday, January 16 at 8 PM EST
- Where: TD Garden, Boston
- TV: ESPN
- Radio: TuneIn
- Live Stream: NBA League Pass
- NBA Odds: Boston Celtics -2.5 (Total 223.5)
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Why bet on the Toronto Raptors?
The Toronto Raptors are back on top of the Eastern Conference after trailing the Milwaukee Bucks for a couple of weeks. Their lead is at a single game now, which they managed after winning 5 games in a row and 8 of their last 10. The Raptors have had success no matter where they play this season, going 15-8 in road games this season.
Where the Raptors have not had a lot of luck is on the road to the Celtics, as they have lost in each of their last 4 trips to the Garden. The Raptors have not been an underdog very often this season, covering the spread in 5 of the 9 games where they have been given that label. They are 4-4 ATS in games where they were in as the road underdog.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 113.96
- Field Goal Percentage: 47.43
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.41
- Free Throw Percentage: 80.00
- Total Rebounds: 45.29
Defense
- Total Score: 108.47
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.24
- Three-Point Percentage: 34.35
- Free Throw Percentage: 76.08
- Total Rebounds: 44.96
Why bet on the Boston Celtics?
It is more than fair to suggest that the Celtics have been a disappointment this season. The Celtics were the favorites to win the Eastern Conference prior to the start of the season, but at the midway point of the year, they are down in the #5 seed, 7 games off the pace being set at the top by the Toronto Raptors.
Road trips have been bad news for Boston this season, but that has not been the case at home, where they are a very solid 15-5. The Celtics really need to get something going, as they are losing even more ground after dropping 3 games in a row to slip to 5-5 in their last 10 games. The Celtics have been a fairly good bet ATS at home this season, going 14-6.
Team Stats
Offense- Total Score: 111.70
- Field Goal Percentage: 45.72
- Three-Point Percentage: 36.36
- Free Throw Percentage: 79.72
- Total Rebounds: 45.00
Defense
- Total Score: 105.56
- Field Goal Percentage: 44.21
- Three-Point Percentage: 33.24
- Free Throw Percentage: 75.68
- Total Rebounds: 45.77
Odds for NBA Finals Possible Matchup
Raptors at Celtics NBA Betting Trends
- Toronto is 1-7 ATS in its last 8 games on the road
- Toronto is 14-7 SU in its last 21 games on the road
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto’s last 6 games on the road
- Boston is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games at home
- Boston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
- The total has gone OVER in 5 of Boston’s last 7 games at home
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Raptors at Celtics
These two have split the 2 games that they have played this season, with the home team winning both of those games. I think that the Raptors, given their current form, might be able to flip the script by winning this one.
Score: Toronto Raptors 116 – Boston Celtics 112
