BOSTON — The Celtics look to bounce back from a Wednesday loss against the Denver Nuggets when they face the Toronto Raptors on Friday night at TD Garden.
The Celtics will be without Josh Minott, who will miss his second straight game with an ankle sprain, and Jayson Tatum, who is expected to miss most, if not all, of the season recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
For the Raptors, the preferred starting lineup of Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, Scottie Barnes, Jakob Poeltl, and Immanuel Quickley
should all be good to go.
The game has major seeding implications as the Celtics (23-13) currently hold a one-game lead over the Raptors (23-15) in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics won both of the team’s two previous matchups this season, most recently coming out with a 112-96 victory over the Raptors, without Jaylen Brown. But, the Raptors were more shorthanded in those matchups, with RJ Barrett sidelined, and have been better with him in the lineup.
The Raptors come to TD Garden playing some of the best basketball of their season
The Celtics have won 13 of their last 17 games and will look to avoid their first two-game losing streak since December 15th.
The Raptors, meanwhile, have won 5 of their last 6 games and are currently in the midst of a three-game win streak. An Immanuel Quickley game-winner on Wednesday night propelled the Raptors to a 97-96 win over the Charlotte Hornets.
A key factor in the Raptors’ success has been the availability of RJ Barrett; the Raptors are 16-6 with Barrett available, and 7-9 without him in the lineup. Barrett was sidelined the previous two times the teams faced off.
Celtics-Raptors will tip off at 7pm at TD Garden on Friday night.
