Boston Celtics Face Toronto Raptors with Eastern Conference No. 2 Seed at Stake

The Boston Celtics enter their matchup against the Toronto Raptors with a 52-25 record, securing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. With five games left in the regular season, Boston leads the New York Knicks by 2.5 games. m. at TD Garden in Boston and will air on NBC Sports Boston and WROR-FM 105.7.

The betting line lists Boston as a 9.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 219.5 points.

The Raptors hold a 43-34 record and are positioned seventh in the Eastern Conference, leading the Philadelphia 76ers by half a game for the final top-six playoff spot. A top-six finish would allow Toronto to bypass the play-in tournament. In their last 10 games, the Raptors have a 5-5 record, going 6-4 against the spread and 4-6 to the over/under.

Boston has a 8-2 record over its last 10 games, with a 6-4 mark against the spread and 5-5 to the over/under. The Celtics recently defeated the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 53 points in the first quarter against Miami on Wednesday—a franchise record—and 43 points in the first quarter against Milwaukee on Friday.

These performances contributed to a combined 96 points in the opening quarters of those two games, an NBA record for consecutive first quarters.

Team statistics show the Celtics averaging 114.6 points per game while allowing 107.1 points. Toronto averages 114.5 points scored and 112.1 allowed. Boston shoots 46.6% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range, holding opponents to 44.1% from the field and 36.0% from beyond the arc.

The Raptors shoot 48.0% from the field and 35.1% from three, with opponents at 46.6% from the field and 35.3% from three.

In Friday's win over Milwaukee, Boston center Neemias Queta recorded 13 points, five rebounds, and three blocks in the first quarter, helping build a 21-point lead. Queta finished with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting, 10 rebounds, and four blocks. Six Celtics players scored in double figures, marking Boston's 10th victory by at least 25 points this season.

Queta has reached double figures in scoring in four of his last five games.

Celtics forward Jayson Tatum commented on Queta's performance, stating, “It’s unbelievable. I couldn’t be more proud and happier for Neemy. The way he’s seeing the game [and] the leap he’s made as a screener, as a passer. ” Nikola Vucevic is listed as questionable for Sunday's game, his first such status since fracturing his finger last month.

After Sunday's game, both the Celtics and Knicks will have four regular-season games remaining, determining the final Eastern Conference seeding. The outcome of the Raptors-Celtics matchup could influence Toronto's pursuit of a direct playoff berth. Playoff implications extend to multiple teams, including the 76ers, as the regular season concludes.