Toronto @ Boston preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 6, 2018 ) Boston 91, Toronto 111

The Boston Celtics have weathered a storm of injuries and somehow kept alive their chances at claiming the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They can make that race much more interesting with a win over the first-place Toronto Raptors, who visit Boston on Saturday.

Jaylen Brown's game-winning 3-pointer at Utah on Wednesday capped a 4-0 road trip for the Celtics, who have won five in a row overall and are three games behind the Raptors with seven to play - including a matchup between the rivals in Toronto next week. "Celtics fans know that we come back from behind, we don't get too wound up, and we're resilient," Brown told reporters after his last-second shot. "And I think that's just the whole undertone of the whole season: resiliency, and I think that's going to take us far." The Raptors exchanged losses and wins since an 11-game winning streak and capped a 2-1 homestand with a 114-110 win over Denver on Tuesday. The Celtics won the first meeting in Boston by a point before the Raptors claimed the second matchup in Toronto by 20.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBATV, Sportsnet One (Toronto), NBCS Boston

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (55-20): Toronto moved within one victory of matching the franchise record of 56 set two seasons ago after a balanced attack topped Denver, and it is welcoming the intensity of the race with the Celtics. "No question, somebody chasing you, pushing you, you feel the footsteps behind you," coach Dwane Casey told reporters. "I think it will help us going into the playoffs, that mentality, keeping that edge. I thought the last couple years we lost it a little bit. Even without (this tough stretch), we should be looking at the big picture and looking at something that is very important, which is the playoffs." The Raptors visit third-place Cleveland before hosting Boston on Wednesday to begin its final homestand.

ABOUT THE CELTICS (52-23): Brown returned from a concussion just as All-Star teammate Kyrie Irving was undergoing knee surgery and has shown little rust following his six-game layoff. The 21-year-old had 21 points against the Jazz and his game-winner left him 4-for-4 from beyond the arc over the last two games. Al Horford, another injured All-Star, missed the dramatic win with an ankle injury and is day-to-day.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Opponents are averaging 96 points against the Celtics during their five-game run.

2. Raptors SG DeMar DeRozan is 1-for-11 from 3-point range over his last four games.

3. Toronto recorded a season-high 16 blocked shots on Tuesday, including a career high-tying four from point guard Kyle Lowry.

PREDICTION: Celtics 108, Raptors 106