The Toronto Raptors will look to snap their 10-game losing streak in their final game of 2024 when they visit the Boston Celtics.
The Raptors defense has been getting lit up in the last 3 games and it won’t get any easier for them when they take on a Celtics team that is third in offensive rating in the league.
In their last three games the Raptors have given up 139 points, 155 points and 136 points which is the most surrendered in franchise-history over a three game span. They have the worst defensive rating (131.1), worst net rating (-22) and have the most turnovers per game (20.3) over that same three game period.
If this game wasn’t challenging enough, the Raptors are going to be missing their leading scorer RJ Barrett who is out with an illness. Immanuel Quickley (elbow) remains out for the Raptors as well. Gradey Dick (hamstring tightness), Davion Mitchell (illness) and Bruno Fernando (toe) are questionable.
For the Celtics, Jrue Holiday (shoulder) and Kristaps Porzingis (ankle) are both questionable. The Celtics have been pretty inconsistent lately losing four out of their last six games so perhaps the Raptors can catch them off guard in this spot. Remember the last time these two teams met in Boston, the Raptors almost pulled off a huge upset win thanks to Jakob Poeltl’s 35-point performance.
Poeltl will need to have another big game inside if the Raptors want any chance of pulling off the upset. Also, Scottie Barnes needs to be super aggressive, especially with Barrett out. He and Poeltl need to carry Toronto offensively.
This will be another tough task for the Raptors and it will be interesting to see how they respond after their recent stretch of awful performances.
Toronto Raptors (7-25) vs. Boston Celtics (23-9)
3:00 p.m. EST, Tuesday, December 31, 2024
TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: Sportsnet
Projected Raptors Starting Lineup:
PG: Bruce Brown
SG: Gradey Dick
SF: Ochai Agbaji
PF: Scottie Barnes
C: Jakob Poeltl
Key Reserves: Ja’Kobe Walter, Kelly Olynyk, Jamal Shead
Projected Celtics Starting Lineup:
PG: Derrick White
SG: Jaylen Brown
SF: Jayson Tatum
PF: Sam Hauser
C: Al Horford
Key Reserves: Payton Pritchard, Luke Kornet, Jordan Walsh
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