Celtics, Raptors Keep the UNDERS Coming

Toronto knows a thing or two about last-minute victories – and its most recent one has thrust it back into its second-round series with the Boston Celtics. The Raptors pulled out a 104-103 win on OG Anunoby's buzzer-beater in Game 3, and are a razor-thin favorite to even the series against a Celtics team coming off its first loss of the 2020 postseason.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

Toronto opened as a small favorite for the fourth consecutive game, and that already-thin advantage has since shrunk to -1. The total launched at 213, but is up between 1 and 1 1/2 points in most spots.

Toronto News & Notes

It took 2.5 games, but the Raptors finally look like they're ready to give the Celtics a fight. Toronto overcame a double-digit halftime deficit and did it with defense, holding Boston to just 46 second-half points. The 104-103 victory marks the third straight UNDER in the series, and there should be plenty of action on the U213 with both sides showing impressive defensive chops.

Toronto's continued success will hinge on the play of its backcourt, and on improving its showing from deep. Fred VanVleet and Kyle Lowry were the difference Thursday night, combining for 56 points and 14 assists but also accounting for eight of the team's 13 turnovers. And a 13-of-40 showing from 3-point range puts the Raptors at just 28.3 percent from long range in the series.

Boston News & Notes

Jaylen Brown was steaming after Game 3, suggesting that the Raptors had no business winning. And while you might agree with him, it was certainly no fault of his that Toronto prevailed: Brown finished with 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting while grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds; he's averaging 19.7 points in the playoffs and has been fulfilling his role as a competent secondary scorer.

While losing on a buzzer-beater never feels good, Boston can point to at least two other reasons it dropped its first game of the playoffs. The Celtics struggled just as much as the Raptors from 3-point range, going just 9-for-29 while missing all five of their attempts in the pivotal fourth quarter. Boston also managed just two fast-break points in defeat; the Raptors had 14.

Betting Pick: UNDER 213 (-110)

The total is starting to shrink, but it isn't quite at the point where we're off the UNDER. These teams are likely headed for another game in the low-to-mid 200s.