Raptors Face Uphill Battle vs Celtics

0:00On April 7th, the Toronto Raptors dropped a tough one to the Boston Celtics, falling 115 to 101 on the road. That loss highlights why a potential playoff matchup looks grim, with the Raptors sitting as the number 7 seed and Boston locked in at number 2. The Celtics have dominated all season, while Toronto's hot start has cooled off lately. Boston swept the four game regular season series, winning each by at least 8 points, including that latest beatdown on April 5th, 26. Earlier clashes back in December and January showed the same story, with scores like 121 to 113 and 100, 25 to 117. Fans are buzzing about the stars versus systems angle, as Jason Tatum returns from his Achilles injury to team up with Jalen Brown, forming one of the league's top duos. Meanwhile, the Raptors push a fast paced offense, leading in fast break points at 18.5 per game, and ranking second in assists.

1:00But they... Gaiden up in the paint last time, giving up 76 points there. Key for Toronto will be Bench Spark, Jacobi Walter, who dropped 16 in the last game, and could be huge off the pine. Up front, Brandon Ingram and RJ Barrett must lock down Tatum and Brown, with Barrett cutting turnovers and Ingram winning his scoring battles. Especially if Nicola Vusovic returns for Boston soon. If the Raptors lean into their physical defense and speedy attack, they might steal a game and flip the pressure back on Boston. Still, as big underdogs, pulling off the upset means executing their identity perfectly from the jump. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to Boston Celtics News today. AI-powered team coverage.