Game Time: 8:00 PM ET, Monday, March 28th, 2022 

Venue:   Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada

Where to Watch: NBA League Pass

DraftKings:  Spread:  Raptors -2.5; O/U 218

Fanduel:  Spread:  Raptors -3; O/U 218

BetMGM:  Spread: Raptors -2.5; O/U 217.5

Celtics: 46-28, 3rd place Eastern Conference

Raptors: 42-32, 6th place Eastern Conference

An Eastern Conference NBA matchup of playoff bound teams.  A battle that will define how the last ten games of the season need to go for everyone else in the East.  The Boston Celtics started the season rough to say the least… they dropped in the standing to levels they have not seen in the last 4 seasons… at one brief point the Celtics tasted what it was like to be in 11th place. The Raptors won a Championship just 3 seasons ago… then they had to rebuild as they were spurned (luckily) by SF Kawhi Leonard.. At one point in the season they also tasted 11th place in the Eastern Conference standings.  Both franchises righted the ship and answered several questions about what they were made of.  Since the New Year both teams have rocketed back into contention.

The Boston Celtics are without a doubt one of the hottest teams in the league, right up there with the Memphis Grizzlies in win percentage since the all-star break. They have won 9 of their last ten games.  They went 7-3 ATS during that stretch.  They are on a five-game winning streak while going 4-1 ATS during that stretch.  The last team they lost to was the Dallas Mavericks back on March 13th.  That night was a unicorn night as both Sg Jaylen Brown and SF Jason Tatum had bad shooting nights.  The Celtics are in an odd position after losing in the playoffs the last 4 seasons with essentially the same stars while always juggling a new Point Guard.  The stars can no longer claim youth and inexperience!  In the life of basketball these are proven Vets that need to get it done already.  The excuse for not advancing to the Conference Finals or the Finals is perfect when you SG and SF are both rooks and sophomores… but by year five it is now or never.

The Toronto Raptors have won 8 of their last ten games.  They went 8-2 ATS during that stretch… and yes the two losses were the two losses ATS.  The Raptors are on a two-game winning streak and 2-0 ATS during the same time.  The Raptors have been lovingly built by the most competent hands in the GM spot in the League, Masai Ujiri.  Masai finds players that other teams are not looking at.  PF Pascal Siakam, PG Fred VanVleet, and PF Chris Boucher lead the team in points, rebounds, assist, and blocked shots… and they were all reaches by Masai.  The current rookie Scottie Barnes can play any position and succeed.  He is a couple seasons away from his own MVP campaign and he is the secret.  In fact if Houston had a do over they would spurn SG Jalen Green… AND Cleveland PF Evan Mobley… to take Scottie Barnes.  Scottie can play almost any position on the floor giving the front office a Rubik’s cube of roster building… they can always take the next best player/idea because they can always slide Scottie Barnes over and improve whatever position they slide him into.  The future for the Raptors is bright, is it bright enough to take down the Celtics ATS and make us $$?

Al McMordie was 5-2 in basketball yesterday, including a 2-0 SWEEP in March Madness with Villanova and Southern Utah getting the $$$$. On Sunday, Big Al's unloading in the NBA with this High Roller Winner out of two angles that combine for an 88-49 ATS record. Go get it! Get Big Al’s' picks!   You can discover the best  picks right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers. NCAAF, NFL, MLB, college football… get positive value from all your bets! Expert picks!  Fun fact… winning a wager is much better than making a wager!

The Celtics are 46-28 on the season, 39-34-1 ATS.  They have logged 34 Overs, 38 Unders, and 2 Push.  They are 21-16 in road games.

The Raptors are 42-32 on the season, but 43-31 ATS.  They have notched 37 Overs and 37 Unders.  They are 19-16 in home games.

The Celtics are 16th in scoring with 110.4 ppg, 5th in rebounds with 46.1 per game, and 13th in AST/To ratio with 1.8.  On defense they rank 1st while holding opponents to 103.8 ppg.

The Raptors are 18th in scoring with 109.1 ppg, 10th in rebounds with 45.3, and 15th in AST/TO ratio with 1.8.  On defense they rank 9th while allowing 107.1 ppg.  

Our prediction for Monday, March 28th is…. Celtics 123 - Raptors 118

The Celtics stay as hot as they are.  The win is for the  whole Eastern Conference as the Raptors have secured a position in the playoffs but the Celtics want to really contend. The Celtics have the point to prove.  Their play as a visitor will not be lost on the players.

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Toronto is 12-4 ATS after covering 3 of their last 4 games.
Toronto is 16-6 ATS after 2 consecutive wins.
Boston is 3-0 ATS versus Toronto over the last 3 seasons.

Celtics: C Al Horford (personal) Out

Raptors: SG Gary Trent Jr (toe) Out

Celtics: SF Jayson Tatum, PF Grant Williams, C Robert Williams III, SG Jaylen Brown, PG Marcus Smart

Raptors: SF OG Anunoby, PF Pascal Siakam, C Khem Birch, SG Scottie Barnes, PG Fred VanVleet

Celtics: Ime Udoka

Raptors: Nick Nurse