Celtics Favored Vs. Raptors As C’s Look To Extend Four-Game Winning Streak
The Boston Celtics will be looking to extend their current winning streak to five games and secure their position as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference when they take on the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night as 4-point betting favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Celtics continue to exceed expectations this season, posting a pair of wins over the Cleveland Cavaliers this past weekend, allowing them to clinch a playoff spot with the ninth-place Brooklyn Nets’ 113-86 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night.
Tuesday night’s Raptors vs. Celtics betting matchup at TD Garden marks Boston’s second-to-last game of the regular season. The club has looked solid down the stretch, winning six of its last seven games, straight-up and against the spread, but have gone just 2-4, SU and ATS, in their last six contests on home court.
Unlike their recent dates with the Cavaliers, when starters LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving saw little or no playing time, the Celtics face a Raptors squad that still has something to play for as they’re gunning for the No. 3 seed in the East.
The Atlantic-leading Raptors have cooled off considerably since their torrid 13-2 start to the season, going 11-15 in their last 26 games (10-16 ATS) including a 117-116 loss to Boston last week, losing outright as 2-point favorites on the NBA betting lines at the sportsbooks.
However, Toronto is on a three-game winning streak since, including wins over the Charlotte Hornets and the Miami Heat that helped clear the Celtics’ path to an unexpected playoff berth.
A win over the Raptors combined with an Indiana Pacers loss to the Washington Wizards on Tuesday would clinch the seventh seed for Boston. The Celtics hold a one-game lead over Indy with two games remaining heading into Tuesday’s games, but the Pacers hold the tiebreaker.
Indiana has roared to life following a recent 2-9 stretch, winning their last five and going 4-1 ATS. The Pacers have moved to heavy 9-point favorites over the Wizards after opening as 5-point favorites.
Following their date with the Raptors, the Celtics travel to Milwaukee on Wednesday for their regular-season finale with the Bucks, who are locked into sixth place in the East and are expected to rest starters.
The Pacers wrap up their campaign on Wednesday with a visit to Memphis. The Grizzlies currently sit sixth in the Western Conference, but could possibly rise to fifth with a win.
Thumbnail photo via Dan Hamilton/USA TODAY Sports Images
