Celtics vs. Raptors Picks, Predictions: How Will Boston Handle Being an Underdog?
The Boston Celtics have been the best road warriors in the NBA this year, but they are underdogs in Toronto on Monday. Read on for our Celtics and Raptors picks and predictions.
The team with the best record in the NBA is an underdog for the first time this season on Monday night as the Celtics (19-5) travel to face the Raptors (12-11) in Toronto. How will Boston respond to an unfamiliar circumstance?
Read on for our picks and predictions for Monday’s NBA matchup between the Celtics and Raptors (odds via DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, and BetMGM; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Celtics vs. Raptors Game Info
Date/Time: Monday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV: NBA League Pass
Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
Celtics vs. Raptors Odds
Celtics vs. Raptors Odds Analysis
The Celtics opened as a 1-point road favorite before seeing the line flip in favor of the Raptors. Toronto is now favored by 1 at FanDuel and by 1.5 points at DraftKings and BetMGM.
The total opened at 227 before climbing up to 227.5 at BetMGM and 228 at DraftKings and FanDuel. At the time of this writing, 82% of the money wagered on the total has been on the Over.
Celtics vs. Raptors Picks
- ATS: Celtics +1.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
- Over/Under: Under 228 (-110 via DraftKings)
- Prop: Pascal Siakam Over 8.5 rebounds (+104 via FanDuel)
Celtics vs. Raptors ATS Pick
Celtics +1.5 (-110) ★★★
The Raptors have an impressive 8-3 record ATS at home, but their +2.3 ATS home scoring margin ranks just 14th in the league. This suggests that Toronto hasn’t quite been as dominant at home as the ATS record indicates.
Monday against Boston could be a game where that regresses to the mean. The Celtics have the best winning percentage in the NBA and have not been an underdog yet this season. Boston enters Monday with an 8-3 record on the road, winning seven of its last eight away games.
The historical trends are bleak for teams playing in Toronto on the second leg of a back-to-back, but Boston is 3-1 ATS with no days of rest on the year. Bet the Celtics at BetMGM or DraftKings to get +1.5 (-110), rather than the +1 (-108) offering at FanDuel.
Celtics vs. Raptors O/U Pick
Under 228 (-110) ★★★★
Boston’s top-ranked offensive efficiency in the NBA has manifested Celtics games going Over at the third-highest rate in the league. But their split in play style between home and road has been noteworthy.
Nine of 11 Boston’s home games have gone Over this season, but only 3 of 11 road contests have cleared the total, which is the second-lowest rate in the NBA. Toronto ranks 10th in the NBA in defensive efficiency and has seen its home games go 5-6 on Overs.
Toronto averaged just 101 points per game during a late-November three-game homestand before bouncing back for 121 points at home on Saturday. With the way Boston defends on the road, I expect the Raptors to revert back below their scoring average of 110.9 in a tight contest. DraftKings and FanDuel both offer the total at 228, but DK has more favorable odds on the Under at -110.
Celtics vs. Raptors Prop Pick
Siakam Over 8.5 rebounds (+104) ★★★★
Pascal Siakam ranks 14th in the NBA with 7.2 defensive rebounds per game this season. His tendency to clean up the opponent’s glass should lead to a strong rebounding effort in Monday’s matchup with a Boston team that isn’t effective in corralling its misses.
Boston spreads the floor to establish one of the most explosive perimeter shooting attacks in the league, but the style makes it tough for the Celtics to crash the offensive glass. Boston has a 19.4% offensive rebound rate, which ranks near the bottom of the league.
Though Siakam has only cleared this total once in four games since his return from injury, he averages 8.9 rebounds per game. DraftKings and BetMGM offer the line at 8.5 with -110 odds. Take advantage of the friendly +104 pricing at FanDuel for the Over on this prop.
Where to Bet on Celtics vs. Raptors Picks
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Celtics-Raptors picks made 12/5/2022 at 2 p.m. ET.
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