Celtics vs Raptors Picks and Predictions: Raps' Depth Will Lead The Way Against Banged-Up Cs

The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors have been two of the Eastern Conference's top teams in recent years but they're both hovering around .500 as they face off north of the border on Sunday.

Oddsmakers are expecting a close game between these Atlantic Division foes with NBA betting lines opening with the Raps as slim 1-point home favorites.

Here are our best NBA betting picks and predictions for Celtics vs. Raptors for Sunday, November 28, with tipoff at 6 p.m. ET.

Celtics vs Raptors odds

Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.

The Raptors opened as 1-point favorites in this game with the Over/Under set at 209.5. Early money has come in on the Under moving the total to 209. When these teams previously met up in October, the Celtics won 104-88 as 3-point home faves. Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.

Celtics vs Raptors predictions

• Prediction: Raptors -1 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 209 (-110)
• Best bet: Raptors 1H Team Total Over 50.5 (-125)

Predictions made on 11/28/2021 at 1 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Celtics vs Raptors game info

• Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
• Date: Sunday, November 28, 2021
• Tip-off: 6:00 p.m. ET
• TV: Sportsnet, NBC Sports Boston

Celtics vs Raptors betting preview

Injuries

Celtics: Josh Richardson SG (Probable), Jaylen Brown SG (Questionable), Dennis Schroder PG (Out), Robert Williams III C (Out).
Raptors: Gary Trent Jr. SG (Questionable), Khem Birch C (Out), O.G. Anunoby F (Out). 
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Over is 7-1 in the Raptors' last eight games overall. Find more NBA betting trends for Celtics vs. Raptors.

Celtics vs Raptors picks and predictions

Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.

Spread analysis

The Celtics and Raptors both slogged through underwhelming campaigns last season and while they'll likely be fighting for a playoff spot this year, neither look like true contenders. The Celtics are coming off back-to-back ugly losses, falling to the Nets by 19 points on Wednesday before scoring just 88 points versus the Spurs on Friday. 

The Raptors are fresh off a 114-97 defeat against the Pacers which makes them just 2-5 SU and ATS in their last seven games. The Raps were grinding out wins earlier in the season and were expected to show improvement once All-Star Pascal Siakam returned to the floor but have won just two of nine games with him in the lineup. That includes a 104-88 loss in Boston back on November 10.

It's easy to see why this line is so close. The Celtics have the slimmest of edges when it comes to net rating, sitting at plus-0.6 while the Raptors are at minus-0.3. The C's have also gone 5-1 SU (4-2 ATS) in the last six meetings between these Eastern Conference foes and had gone 8-3 SU in their previous 11 games before their recent two-game slide.

That said, key injuries for the Celtics could play a big role in this one. Although Jaylen Brown played against the Spurs on Friday, he's listed as questionable due to injury management and his minutes could be closely monitored. Meanwhile, Boston's third-leading scorer Dennis Schroder (17.1 points per game) and leading rebounder Robert Williams (9.6 rpg) have both been ruled out. 

The Raptors have more depth and length. They also do a better job of running the floor, ranking second in the league with 15.5 fast-break ppg while the Celtics are 27th with 9.6 ppg. Expect those easy buckets to make a difference in what should be a close contest. 

Prediction: Raptors -1 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

These teams are coming off ugly offensive showings and play at a slower tempo but there's reason to think that this total is simply too low. Both Raptors and Celtics games have seen an average of 213 ppg this season with the Raps scoring 106.4 ppg and allowing 106.6 ppg, while the C's score 107.1 ppg and give up 105.9 ppg.

The Over has also gone 4-3 in the last seven meetings between these familiar foes with more than 225 total points scored in those four contests.  With the Raptors going above the total in seven of their last eight games, back the Over on Sunday.

Prediction: Over 209 (-110)

Best bet

Although Siakam hasn't led the Raptors to many wins, he has helped them on the offensive end of the floor as he begins to hit his stride after recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. The Raptors have scored at least 57 points in the first half in six of their last seven contests, averaging 59 first-half ppg during that span. 

They average 54.4 ppg during the first half of all games this season and while that number ranks a modest 15th in the league it's still significantly higher than their first-half team total of 50.5 today. We might not see fireworks in the first half but Toronto should be able to go over that mediocre number. 

Pick: Raptors First Half Team Total Over 50.5 (-125)

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