posted November 27, 2009 at 17:44 EST in NBA Free Picks
NBA Betting Odds – Toronto Raptors vs. Boston Celtics (-9.5)
NBA Betting Odds – Celtics Look to Extend Winning Ways as Bosh, Raptors Visit
Raptors (+9½) vs. Celtics (-9½)
(O/U) 204
Friday, November 27 7:00 PM ET
The Boston Celtics (11-4 SU, 5-10 ATS, 7-8 O/U) clearly aren’t playing their best basketball of the season right now, struggling to win each of their last two games after dropping three of their previous four.
To make matters even worse, the Celtics have failed to cover the spread in six consecutive games and a whopping nine of 10 overall.
Even with their current struggles, the Celtics are still playing better basketball than the Toronto Raptors (7-9 SU, 8-8 ATS, 9-7 O/U), losers of five of their last seven games overall.
Toronto Raptors @ Boston Celtics -9½ >> Join to Bet Now
Both teams will be looking to play better basketball tonight when they battle at Boston’s TD Garden at 7:30 PM ET.
Toronto
- Raptors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 vs. Eastern Conference.
- Raptors are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.
The Raptors have alternated wins and losses in each of their last five games, but were absolutely routed by the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night, losing 116-81 and failing to cover the NBA moneyline as 2.5-point road favorites in the loss.
Chris Bosh led the way for Toronto with 18 points and 14 boards but the Raptors shot just 34.5 percent from the field in the poor showing. The Raptors have gone 2-4 against the spread (ATS) over its last six games.
Boston
- Celtics are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.
- Celtics are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Paul Pierce scored a team-high 27 points to lead the Celtics past the 76ers on Wednesday night as six Boston players reached double figures in scoring in the win. Boston failed to cover the NBA point spread as13-point home favorites in the win.
Analysis: The Toronto Raptors have played the Celtics close in four of the last five meetings against the Celtics and I think they are going to keep the final score inside 10 points tonight.
Boston’s poor ATS record and deliberate style of play, combined with the fact that the Raptors have a pretty solid veteran-laden roster, have me believing the Raptors are going to narrowly cover tonight’s NBA point spread.
While I am not predicting an outright road win for the Raptors, I say they lose inside of 10 points tonight.
