The Celtics will go for their fifth straight win on Sunday against a shorthanded Raptors squad at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto is listing starting forward RJ Barrett out with a knee injury. Starting point guard Immanuel Quickley is also questionable for the matchup due to illness.
The Celtics will be fully healthy for the matchup outside of Jayson Tatum (torn Achilles). Jaylen Brown returned from a one-game absence on Friday night due to illness, scoring a team-high 30 points in a win over the Lakers at TD Garden.
Sunday’s matchup will be the first head-to-head game for the two divisional rivals this year, with both teams surpassing expectations so far. The Raptors sit a half-game above Boston in the East standings with a 15-9 record, including 8-4 at home. However, they have hit some turmoil this past week with four losses in their last five games including an ugly home blowout defeat to the lowly Raptors on Friday.
The Celtics come into the matchup as the hottest team in the Eastern Conference with four straight wins, including a blowout win over the Lakers on Friday night. Boston’s high-powered offense should be tested against the Raptors, who sport the seventh-best defense in the NBA this season through 24 games.
Boston will be concluding a daunting schedule stretch at the conclusion of the matchup with their sixth game in nine nights. They will get plenty of rest for the next two weeks after the Raptors showdown with just two games over the next 11 days starting on Monday.
The Celtics and Raptors tip off at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.