Celtics vs Raptors Game 1 Odds and Picks

• The first series of the second round of the NBA playoffs gets underway on Sunday at 1pm EST
• The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors matchup in what should be a brilliant series
• Get the latest odds, betting discussion and a pick below

Sunday sees the start of the second round of the 2020 NBA playoffs with the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors meeting in Game 1 at 1pm EST.

Both teams completed sweeps in the first round. Boston saw off the Philadelphia 76ers with ease, but lost Gordon Hayward along the way. The Raptors cruised past a massively depleted Brooklyn Nets club, though they are sweating over the fitness of Kyle Lowry, who turned his ankle early on in Game 4 of their first-round series.

The latest Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors odds are in the table below – Toronto is favored by a couple points by FanDuel.

Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors Game 1 Odds

Odds taken August 29.

Equipped To Challenge Tatum

The Sixers had no one remotely suitable to guard Jayson Tatum. He averaged 27 points a game in the series as a result. The former third overall pick scored 28 or more in three of the four games in round one, with foul trouble holding him back in the other. With Ben Simmons sidelined, Philly had no answer – Tatum shot 38-for-78 for the series.

Toronto is much better equipped to slow down Boston’s primary scorer. Tatum averaged 16.5 points per game against the Raps in the regular season, and notably shot just 16 free throws across those games. He had 25 free throw attempts in the first round.

The @Raptors take Game 4 and ADVANCE to the Eastern Conference Semifinals! 🙌

Norman Powell: 29 PTS, 5 3PT, 5 AST
Serge Ibaka: 27 PTS, 3 3PT, 15 REB
Pascal Siakam: 20 PTS, 10 AST, 6 REB
Terence Davis: 14 PTS, 4 3PT, 4 REB
Matt Thomas: 12 PTS
OG Anunoby: 10 PTS, 7 REB, 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/igsRzisEP4

— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) August 24, 2020

The Raptors have the personnel to throw different guys at him. OG Anunoby should get the most reps – he’s got the size and quickness to stay in front of Tatum on drives and compete his perimeter jumpers. Where the Sixers had no options, Toronto have several. They can switch without putting themselves in a disastrous matchup and Nick Nurse will be quick to trap and double if Tatum gets hot.

Transition Games Meet

The Raptors led the league in transition points per game. Pascal Siakam and Lowry were fifth and sixth, respectively, in transition scoring, ahead of LeBron James, De’Aaron Fox and Simmons. This Toronto team loves to get out and run, catching defenses lapsing.

Boston is one of the best transition defenses in the league, ranking fifth in transition points given up per game. The majority of their line-ups are equipped to run the floor and get back after a miss or a turnover. Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart (who will be starting in Hayward’s absence) are great transition defenders.

Toronto scored 26 points per game from fast break situations in round one. This is a key part of the matchup throughout the series, and Game 1 will be an interesting indicator of which team will take the upper hand. Lowry’s presence, once again, is vital – the veteran point guard is one of the best in the NBA at pushing the ball up the floor.

Elite Defenses Meet

Boston won the season series, but little can be taken from that. The Raptors were without key players in most of those games. It’s the ‘under’ that appears the best value for Game 1.

These are two of the top-four defenses in the NBA. While there’s some great offensive talent on the floor, defense could outweigh offense on Sunday. Each of their four regular season games were around the 216 mark, but with playoff-level intensity, the defense should tick up to another level.

Pick: Under 216 total points (-110)