The Boston Celtics easily dispatched one of their expected rivals at the top of the East in their opener, and are now taking aim at another. The Celtics beat the 76ers with ease to begin the season and now will hit the road to face off against the Toronto Raptors. With LeBron James now in the Western Conference, the Celtics are the odds-on favorite to capture the East, and the Raptors are expected to be one of their main foes on that quest.
Toronto has been solid the past few seasons and hope the addition of an all-NBA talent will lift them higher in the postseason, where the Raptors have traditionally fallen short. While the season is very young, each of these teams would love to make a statement with a win in this showdown in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and The Toronto Raptors will be held at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada at 5 p.m ET on Friday, October 19th, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
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Odds Analysis
The line has yet to be released but the spread figures to be a small one. The Celtics may have a more talented team but the Raptors have the luxury of the home court advantage. Both teams are 1-0 on the season and this should be a high-level and competitive matchup. The scoring total will be interesting. Both teams have strong defenses but the number of points could depend on the pace of play in NBA wagering.
This is a great opportunity for live betting, a new feature which is available for primetime NBA games. It allows gamblers to make wagers when the action is underway.
Player To Watch
Kawhi Leonard --- Leonard was traded by the San Antonio Spurs to Toronto in July after reports that there was growing tension between the twenty-seven-year old small forward and the only team he had ever played for. After going from one of the best players in the league two years ago to only appearing in nine games last year for San Antonio, basketball fans everywhere are eager to see how this season goes for the former two-time NBA All Star.
They got their first look of Kawhi as a Raptor earlier this week. In his debut for Toronto on Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Leonard finished with a double-double, putting up 24 points and 12 rebounds in the 116-104 win. Leonard was 9-of-22 from the field.
Injury Update
The Celtics have welcomed back to the fold point guard Kyrie Irving and small forward Gordon Hayward. Boston played well last season despite missing their stars for much of the season and the playoffs.
Both looked rusty in the opener, as Irving finished with seven points on only 2-of-14 shooting, although he did add seven assists. Hayward had 10 points and five rebounds but lacked explosion.
It’s impressive that the Celtics easily beat the 76ers without their stars playing well last time out, and if they look better in this one Boston should have a good shot at the road upset.
Free NBA ATS Picks
Boston has a surplus of talent and should put together a really good season. The Raptors at home are not an easy foe, but the Celtics should be able to wear them down with their depth. Jayson Tatum has quickly ascended to a starring role while Al Horford, Irving and Hayward are all established veterans.
The Raptors are still trying to figure out how to incorporate Leonard and will fall short in this matchup. Keep an eye on the spread, but the Celtics should be able to win this game easier than the oddsmakers project. The scoring total will be an interesting number to watch. This one could be a defensive battle in NBA betting.
NBA ATS Pick: Boston Celtics 103, Toronto Raptors 95
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