Celtics Vs Raptors: Boston Eyes Another Fast Start At TD Garden
The celtics vs raptors matchup arrives Sunday at 3: 30 p. m. ET at TD Garden, with Boston looking to keep the same early-game punch that fueled recent wins in Miami and Milwaukee. The Celtics enter the game in strong position for the No. 2 seed, while Toronto is trying to hold onto the East’s final top-six playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament. Tip-off is set for 3: 30 p. m. ET, and the game comes with both seeding pressure and a clear test of form.
Boston’s opening bursts have changed the tone
Boston’s recent first quarters have been the story line heading into celtics vs raptors. The Celtics scored a franchise-record 53 points in the first quarter against Miami on Wednesday, then followed with 43 in the opening period in Friday’s win in Milwaukee. Those two openings produced 96 combined first-quarter points, an NBA record for points scored in consecutive opening quarters.
The result has put Boston in control of its race for second in the Eastern Conference, with five games left on the schedule. The Celtics are leading New York by 2 1/2 games entering Sunday, and they also have a chance to return to full health. Nikola Vucevic is listed as questionable for the first time since fracturing his finger last month, with his status set as a game-time decision.
Toronto arrives with playoff pressure still high
Toronto enters the game at 43-34 and is fighting to protect the East’s sixth spot. The Raptors are leading the seventh-seeded 76ers by half a game, and they also sit 1. 5 games ahead of Charlotte and two games ahead of Orlando. In the broader standings picture, Toronto is also behind Atlanta and Cleveland, making every remaining result matter.
For Boston, the season record is 52-25, and the team has won eight of its last 10 games. Toronto is 5-5 over its last 10. Boston also has the advantage at home, where it has won its last eight games against the Raptors in Boston.
Injuries and recent form could shape the night
The injury report gives the Celtics some uncertainty, but the bigger concern for Toronto is availability. Chucky Hepburn is out with a torn meniscus in his right knee, and Immanuel Quickley will miss his eighth straight game because of right foot plantar fasciitis. Toronto will try to manage that absence against a Boston team that has been sharp early and efficient overall.
On Boston’s side, Neemias Queta has emerged as a major factor in the recent run. Jayson Tatum called Queta “an NBA starting big man” after Friday’s win, pointing to the center’s growth as a screener and passer. Boston had six players score in double figures in Milwaukee, showing the balance behind its latest surge.
What comes next in the East race
Sunday’s game is the first of Boston’s final five. After celtics vs raptors, the Celtics will have four regular season games left, while New York will also have four after Sunday. Toronto’s final stretch remains crowded, with upcoming games against Charlotte, New York, New Orleans, Orlando, Miami and Brooklyn still ahead. For both teams, the margin for error is shrinking fast, and this celtics vs raptors meeting could carry real weight beyond one Sunday afternoon at TD Garden.
