Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors Prediction, 8/29/2020 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2020

Location: The Field House in Orlando, Florida

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Toronto -1.5

Total/Over-Under: 217

Pascal Siakam and the Toronto Raptors play the Boston Celtics at The Field House on Saturday in Game 1 of their series. Toronto opens this matchup as 1.5-point favorites. The total has been set at 217.

Both teams had an easy first round, with Boston sweeping Philadelphia and Toronto sweeping the Nets. 

The Celtics are covering the spread 61.1% of the time, having gone 44-28-4 ATS. Toronto is covering 58.7% of the time, going 44-31-1 against the spread.

Key Boston Celtics Injuries

08/25/20 SG Javonte Green Knee is out 2-3 weeks
08/18/20 SF Gordon Hayward Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

08/26/20 PF Oshae Brissett Knee is questionable Thursday vs Toronto
08/26/20 PG Kyle Lowry Ankle is questionable Thursday vs Toronto
08/06/20 SG Patrick McCaw Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Marcus Smart comes into this game averaging 12.9 points per contest while playing 32.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 4.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 38% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Jaylen Brown averages 20.3 points per contest in 33.9 minutes per game. He averages 2.1 assists per game and 6.4 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 48% for the season while his free throw percentage is 72%.

Player Spotlight

Pascal Siakam scores 22.9 points per contest while playing 35.2 minutes per game. He hauls in 7.3 rebounds per contest and has 3.5 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 79%. Fred VanVleet averages 17.6 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 35.7 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.8 rebounds per game and has 6.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Boston averages 113.7 points per contest, which is 9th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 6.3 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 16th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They average 46.1 boards per contest and 23.0 assists per game, which ranks them 8th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 23rd with 13.8 per game. The Celtics allow 107.3 points per contest, which is 2nd in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 2nd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44.3 rebounds a game which ranks 11th, and they allow 22.4 assists per game which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 15.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 22nd in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto is 14th in the NBA with 112.8 points per contest this season. They are 19th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 6.24. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 5th in the league. They are 11th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.4 boards per contest and 11th in assists per game with 25.2. The Raptors are 14th in turnovers per contest with 14.8. The Raptors give up 106.5 points per game, which ranks them 1st in the league. Their defense surrenders a 43% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 2nd and 1st in those defensive statistics. They rank 26th with 25.6 dimes allowed per game and 24th with 46.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Raptors are 29th in the league in forcing turnovers with 16.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Celtics are 4th in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.3, and their defensive rating of 107 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 17th in the league with 99.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 16th. As a team they are 12th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shots, ranking 14th in the league. Boston is 24th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 27th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Toronto is 12th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 29th in the league. The Raptors are 14th in the NBA in offensive rating with 111.1, and their defensive rating of 105 is ranked 2nd. In terms of pace they are 11th in the league with 100.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 8th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 42% of their shots, ranking 6th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Celtics/Raptors NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Toronto -1.5

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