Celtics vs Raptors Game 3 Picks and Odds

• The Boston Celtics took a 2-0 lead over the Toronto Raptors with a win on Tuesday
• Despite two losses to start the series, the Raps are narrowly favored to win Game 3
• Get the latest odds, betting discussion and a pick below

The Boston Celtics are threatening to run away with what promised to be a deep series. Having fallen 2-0 behind, it is must-win for the Toronto Raptors when the two teams meet for Game 3 on Thursday.

The Raptors overcame a 2-0 deficit last year on their way to the title. They will have to do so again if they are to return to the Conference Finals, and they must find a way to slow down Boston’s perimeter scoring – Jayson Tatum went for a career playoff high of 34 on Tuesday.

The latest Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics odds put the Raps as one-point favorites, and the total has moved down from 218 ahead of Game 2 to 215 for Game 3.

Toronto Raptors vs Boston Celtics Game 3 Odds

Odds taken September 2nd

Nurse Questions Officiating

Nick Nurse criticized the officiating in Game 2. Tatum shot 14 free throws, only five fewer than the whole Raptors team. There were some dodgy calls along the way, one given to Pascal Siakam for an off-ball foul on Marcus Smart was particularly baffling, but some of this was down to foolish Toronto defense.

The Raptors kept all of the Celtics’ starters to under 50% from the field. The free throw disparity was a difference-maker in a three-point game. Game 2 was all about defensive prowess, both teams found it hard to create good looks. Getting to the line is so, so crucial in games like that.

Toronto was 17th in free throw attempts per game during the regular season with 23.2, and they only managed 19 on Tuesday.

Nick Nurse was asked how frustrating it was to see Jayson Tatum take over.

"The only frustrating part about it is this: He shoots 14 free throws, which is as much as our whole team shoots. … They took very good care of him tonight." pic.twitter.com/KvIgFS3RXc

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 2, 2020

Unable to get to the stripe and being outshot from three (the Raps were 11-for-40 from deep in Game 2) isn’t a formula for success.

Siakam Struggles

With shots not falling, teams need a go-to guy in the playoffs. Kawhi Leonard did it so frequently last postseason, either getting to the basket, hitting a contested mid-ranger or drawing a foul. Those top-tier stars can take over an offensive possession and create their own offense. That pressure has fallen to Siakam this series, and he has struggled to live up to the billing.

Pascal Siakam has yet to shoot over 50% from the floor in a game this postseason

17 points (6-16 FG)
13 points (5-16 FG)
20 points (9-22 FG)
26 points (11-23 FG)
19 points (6-14 FG)
18 points (4-13 FG) pic.twitter.com/7Fh5rSp7j8

— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) September 2, 2020

Siakam is meeting an elite defensive team. Boston can throw Marcus Smart, Tatum or Jaylen Brown at him. They can switch between those three – Boston has a great team defense, they send help at the right times and it has caused Siakam problems in this series so far.

He shot over 45% from the field in the regular season. He’s 11-for-32 in the opening two games of this series.

Toronto has been unable to get their guards into offensive rhythm. Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry went a combined 13-for-38 in Game 2, including three-for-19 from three. The pressure on Siakam increases drastically when the VanVleet and Lowry aren’t making shots. Siakam ends up with the ball in his hands more – he hasn’t shown enough variety off the dribble to warrant that.

Low-Scoring Series

Just looking at the box scores, it seems unfeasible these teams will continue to shoot such a low percentage from the field. Boston hit 42% of their shots in Game 2, Toronto were at 40%. Given the profile of these teams, though, it shouldn’t be a surprise.

Jayson Tatum: “I ain't never played with nobody like Smart. I ain't never met nobody like Smart. He is one of a kind.”

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) September 2, 2020

These are two of the four best defensive teams in the league. The Bucks and Lakers had Defensive Player of the Year-level talents in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis. The Celtics and Raptors are a team effort, guided by great coaching and all-round defensive effort. There’s no reason to expect either of these teams to drop off defensively.

The points total under has hit in seven of Boston’s last eight and four of Toronto’s six post-season games. Neither of these two teams are going to blow the other away – they are too good defensively for that. Even with the total dropping to 215, the under is still the best bet (it’s been under 215 in the opening two games of this series).

Pick: Under 215 total points (-110)