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The Toronto Raptors will face a stiff challenge on Tuesday night when the 9-2 Boston Celtics visit. Boston enters the matchup with significant momentum after a 20-point victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia on Monday.
Meanwhile, Toronto is looking to bounce back from a tough loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Raptors will be without their star duo of Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes for the third consecutive game. Leonard is sidelined for the ninth straight game due to left knee swelling, while Barnes is missing his third contest with a groin injury.
Projected Lineup and Injury Updates
The biggest question is how head coach Darko Rajakovic will construct the starting lineup. Collin Murray-Boyles (illness), Immanuel Quickley (right hamstring), and Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness) are all listed as questionable. If Quickley and Murray-Boyles are cleared to play, both are expected to start. The projected lineup would be: PG Immanuel Quickley, SG Ja'Kobe Walter, SF RJ Barrett, PF Collin Murray-Boyles, C Jakob Poeltl. In the previous game against Memphis, Jamal Shead and Kyle Anderson started in place of Quickley and Murray-Boyles.
Keys to the Game
Toronto's main challenge will be generating offense without its top two players. In the first game without Barnes and Leonard, the Raptors scored 121 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, against the Grizzlies, they managed only 102 points, their second-lowest output of the season. Against a Celtics team that has won three straight road games, Toronto must limit mistakes and capitalize on Boston's errors. In the loss to Memphis, the Raptors won the turnover battle 18-14 but were outscored 26-16 in points off turnovers. If that trend continues, victory will be difficult against the Eastern Conference's top team.
Another key factor is offensive rebounding. Both teams rank in the top five in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game, with Toronto second and Boston fifth. Both teams will look to extend possessions on the offensive glass. The Raptors must not only dominate the offensive boards but also convert those extra opportunities into points.