The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors meet again for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. EST.
According to the sports book Betonline.ag, the Raptors enter as 1.5 points favorites over the Celtics despite their 112-96 loss in Game 1, with an over-under of 218.5 points.
Boston stymied Toronto’s transition game in the first of their second round series on the way to an 18-point victory. Pascal Siakam faced foul trouble in the first quarter while Kyle Lowry shot 5-for-12 after a week off recovering from a sprained ankle.
- Celtics vs. Raptors spread: Raptors -1.5
- Celtics vs. Raptors over-under: 218.5 points
- Celtics vs. Raptors money line: Raptors -125, Celtics +105
THE SKINNY
The Celtics played a perfect first quarter in Game 1 and received 5-for-9 three point shooting from Marcus Smart. Both of those things likely don’t happen again in Game 2, but it’s also difficult to see how Toronto turns their fortune around substantially. Boston shut Fred VanVleet off defensively at the three-point line, stonewalled Pascal Siakam in the post and shut off a second quarter rush in transition by Serge Ibaka.
Brad Stevens was not impressed with the transition defense and agreed with Nick Nurse that Siakam hurt them in the post with a pair of and-ones. Toronto needs more scoring and play-making from Lowry to win a game in the half court, while setting up Siakam for more jump shooting.
PREDICTION
All I can predict at this point is that there’ll be no more blowouts in this series. Game 1 when as well for Boston and as poorly for Toronto in all facets as you can imagine. The Raptors should have a better sense of what Semi Ojeleye and Robert Williams can do off the bench and in turn use Serge Ibaka more to challenge Boston’s front court. A better game from Lowry will make it harder on Kemba Walker on both ends. I expect Toronto to bounce back in a big way.
Toronto 110, Boston 105.
