The Boston Celtics will try to bounce back from Tuesday’s 106-100 loss in Milwaukee when they travel to Toronto on Wednesday to face the conference-leading Raptors. The Celtics opened as 8-point underdogs on the NBA odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Boston failed to capitalize on an opportunity to close the gap on the Raptors in the race for top spot in the Eastern Conference with its loss to the Bucks as a 1.5-point underdog and remains two games behind Toronto going into Wednesday night’s Celtics vs. Raptors betting matchup at Air Canada Centre.
Tuesday’s loss also put the brakes on the Celtics’ six-game straight-up winning streak. However, the team maintains a strong 10-3 SU record in its past 13 away contests and has covered in nine of 10 games when pegged as an underdog of eight or more points.
The Celtics tallied a decisive 110-99 win Saturday night as 4.5-point underdogs when the Raptors visited but have struggled in recent visits to Toronto, losing SU in five straight including a 111-91 loss Feb. 6 as 5-point underdogs. The Celtics also have failed to record consecutive SU wins over Toronto in 11 meetings since April 2015, going 4-7 SU and 3-8 against the spread, according to the OddsShark NBA Database.
The Raptors return home after falling 112-106 Tuesday night in Cleveland as 1.5-point underdogs, dropping them to 3-5 SU over their past eight contests and marking the first time in 35 outings since mid-January that Toronto has suffered outright defeats in consecutive games.
Toronto also has been a dismal performer at the sportsbooks, failing to cover the spread in nine consecutive games, including five straight on home court, and is also winless against the spread in five straight when favored by eight or more points.
However, the Raptors have enjoyed consistent success in home dates with Boston. The Celtics have tallied just one SU win in 10 visits to Toronto since February 2013 and suffered ATS defeats in each of their past five, including a lopsided 111-91 loss Feb. 6 as 5-point underdogs.
Despite the tight race between the two teams atop the Eastern Conference standings, the Raptors sit well ahead of Boston at +950 on the NBA championship odds, while the Celtics trail at +2500.
Following Wednesday’s tilt, the Celtics return home for a Friday night date with the Chicago Bulls before entertaining the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. Boston has earned the SU and ATS win in two consecutive home meetings with the Bulls and six of seven overall. Boston posted a 119-110 win over the Hawks Feb. 2 as 7-point home chalk.
