The Boston Celtics (16-11) head into a Saturday night road game against the Toronto Raptors (17-11) with Eastern Conference positioning on the line. These teams are in third and fourth place in the East standings going into Saturday's NBA action and both teams will try to get a statement win in this matchup. Before tip-off from Toronto, you can find my thoughts on this game, including my Celtics vs Raptors prediction.
Our Celtics vs Raptors Pick
- Pick: Raptors Moneyline
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Boston Celtics @ Toronto Raptors
- Date & Time: December 20, 2025, 7:00 PM ET
- Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Ontario
- Broadcast: NBA League Pass
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Key Storylines
- Boston enters this game with some momentum after a 129-116 win over Miami, where Derrick White hit nine three-pointers and Jaylen Brown logged his sixth straight 30-point outing.
- Jaylen Brown has been the Celtics’ offensive star this season, frequently leading the team in scoring and putting pressure on opposing defenses from multiple spots on the floor. Brown is averaging 29.3 points per game and will need another big game here to help his team win on the road.
- The Celtics will again be without Jayson Tatum, currently sidelined with a torn Achilles tendon. But Sam Hauser has returned from a minor ankle issue and delivered an efficient shooting night recently after returning.
- Toronto is coming off a 111-105 victory over the Bucks, led by Brandon Ingram’s 29 points and Scottie Barnes’ double-double. The Raptors have won two straight games after being knocked out of the NBA Cup by the New York Knicks.
- Injury questions loom for Toronto as RJ Barrett remains out with a knee issue and Jakob Poeltl is listed as day-to-day.
- This is the second game of a back-to-back for the Celtics. That could negatively impact the Celtics from an energy and preparation perspective.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- Boston leads this year's season series between the Celtics and Raptors, winning the first meeting 121-113 on December 7.
- Boston is 15-12 against the spread going into this matchup.
- Toronto is 12-16 against the spread heading into Saturday night.
- The Celtics have gone under the total 14 times in 27 games.
- The under has cashed in 17 of their 28 games.
Best Player Props to Watch
Player | Prop |
|---|
Jaylen Brown | Over 29.5 Points |
Derrick White | Over 3.5 Three-Pointers Made |
Brandon Ingram | Under 23.5 Points |
Scottie Barnes | Over 8.5 Rebounds |
Celtics vs Raptors Model Projection
Score Projection: Celtics 114 – Raptors 117
Win Probability: Celtics 48%, Raptors 52%
Final Thoughts
The rest advantage for the Raptors should help them to get a win at home in this contest. The Raps should be able to get a third win in a row, as they have responded nicely from their exit from this year's NBA Cup. I'll take Toronto to win this game on the moneyline as a slight underdog against an Atlantic Division opponent.
Jay Sanin
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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