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Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics – NBA playoff series schedule & TV information
The NBA Eastern Conference playoffs march into the semifinals with this intriguing showdown between the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics. This is a best-of-seven series between the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds in the East, and it begins with Game 1 on Sunday afternoon. The opener had been previously scheduled for Thursday, but the NBA’s protest of social injustice in the United States pushed the whole playoff schedule back three days.
The Raptors-Celtics schedule now stands as follows:
Game 1: Sunday, Aug. 30, 1:00 pm, ESPN
Game 2: Tuesday, Sept. 1, TBD, ESPN
Game 3: Thursday, Sept. 3, TBD, TBD
Game 4: Saturday, Sept. 5, TBD, TBD
Game 5 (if necessary): Monday, Sept. 7, TBD, TBD
Game 6 (if necessary): Wednesday, Sept. 9, TBD, TBD
Game 7 (if necessary): Friday, Sept. 11, TBD, TBD
Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics – NBA playoff odds
This is a semifinal matchup that we all expected to see when the NBA Eastern Conference playoff bracket was revealed. The Raptors (-2200) were heavily favored to win their first-round matchups with the Brooklyn Nets, while the Celtics (-304) were considerable favorites over the injury-plagued Philadelphia 76ers.
Series odds
While single-game lines are the most common form of betting, NBA series odds can be similarly enticing. The Raptors are -140 favorites to take this series and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals against either the Milwaukee Bucks or Miami Heat. As for the Celtics, they come in as slight +120 underdogs. Looking at Sunday’s Game 1 by itself, the odds are similar. Toronto opens as a -145 favorite on the money line, while you can get Boston at +125. The line has the Raptors as -2.5 favorites.
If you are seeking riskier plays when it comes to NBA playoffs betting, exact series scores are also on the market:
Raptors 4-0: +1000
Raptors 4-1: +500
Raptors 4-2: +400
Raptors 4-3: +450
Celtics 4-0: +1600
Celtics 4-1: +700
Celtics 4-2: +500
Celtics 4-3: +500
Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics – NBA playoff series predictions
This NBA series could be one of the most competitive of the entire playoffs. Both the Raptors and the Celtics are coming off sweeps, so they could not be more well-rested heading in the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals. Boston’s four-game humiliation of Philadelphia was especially impressive. Even without Ben Simmons, the 76ers are a formidable foe and the Celtics made them look mediocre at best. As for the depleted Nets, they competed well but were hardly more than a walkover for the Raptors. Boston also has to be feeling good about how it performed in this head-to-head matchup during the regular season, winning three of four contests–including a 122-100 victory in the bubble on Aug. 7. Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum were outstanding in round one, but they didn’t do much in that Aug. 7 win and Boston still dominated. Toronto has been one of the most surprising teams in the NBA this season, battling through its title defense without Kawhi Leonard. At some point, however, will Leonard’s absence catch up to the Raptors?
It is generally a good idea to sprinkle some upsets into your NBA playoff predictions, especially now with all the uncertainty and uniqueness of the bubble. Some surprises are going to take place, and we think a small one will happen here. Take the Celtics at plus money to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, and doing so in exactly seven games (+500) also has good value.
Be sure to check out our daily NBA playoff picks for every game from now through the NBA Finals.
