Points Likely To Be At A Premium In Celtics-Raptors Game 3 Tilt

The final score was closer, but the result moved the Toronto Raptors further away from defending their NBA title. Boston routed Toronto 112-94 in Game 1, then took advantage of a late-game gaffe to prevail 102-99 in Game 2. The Raptors look to trim the Celtics’ 2-0 series lead in half as the Eastern Conference rivals renew hostilities Thursday night in the Orlando bubble.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Raptors remain the oddsmakers’ choice, entering as 1.5-point favorites; that line is now -1 in most spots. The total kicked off at 216 but is now sitting at either 214.5 or 215 depending on where you bet.

Toronto News & Notes

After the first two games, it’s painfully obvious to Toronto backers that the Raptors have met their defensive match. Toronto enters Thursday’s action having struggled mightily on offense, shooting just 38.5 percent from the field and 26.3 percent from three-point range (26.3 percent). Only one Toronto player (OG Anunoby) has scored 20-plus points in either of the first two games.

At the core of the Raptors’ struggles from long range is point guard Kyle Lowry, who is just 1-for-10 from deep through the Sportsbook two games. That might be Boston’s most impressive defensive accomplishment so far, given that Lowry torched the Celtics from long range in their four regular-season meetings, connecting on 46.7 percent of his attempts.

Boston News & Notes

The Celtics are just two wins away from reaching the conference final thanks to a commitment to stifling defense. Boston hasn’t allowed more than 106 points in any of its first six postseason games and the Celtics easily lead the playoffs in holding opponents to 33.3 percent shooting from the field. Teams are averaging 8.8 made treys per game vs Boston, 2.5 fewer than the next closest team.

And just as opposing scorers haven’t been able to solve that stout Boston D, defenders have had just as much trouble containing standout Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. He erupted for a playoff-high 34 points while adding eight rebounds and six assists in the Game 2 victory, and has now scored 30 or more points three times in his first six games of the postseason.

Betting Pick: UNDER 215 (-110)

Aside from Boston’s big first quarter in Game 1, these sides have been locked in defensively – and that isn’t likely to change Thursday with the stakes growing even larger.