Boston Celtics vs Toronto Raptors: Lineups, preview & prediction 2/6/18


(Photo credit: Keith Allison)

All-Star guard Kyrie Irving has missed the last three games with a quad contusion, but the Celtics (39-15) have won all of them while extending their overall win streak to four games following a 97-96 victory over Portland on Sunday.

Al Horford hit a jumper at the buzzer as Boston overcame a 16-point first-half deficit and gave the city something to cheer about before New England faltered in the Super Bowl. The Celtics are two games clear of the Raptors (36-16) for both the Atlantic Division lead and the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

Irving is likely to play, as is forward Marcus Morris, who has missed the last two games with a bruised hip. Even before both players were sidelined, the Celtics had been doing damage offensively from the perimeter, and that continued without the duo as Boston have shot 43.0 percent (37 for 86) from 3-point range in the last three games.

Toronto, who are looking to stay perfect entering the third leg of a four-game home stand, pulled away from Memphis in the fourth quarter of their 101-86 victory Sunday. Reserves Delon Wright and Fred VanVleet led the charge, scoring 15 and 13 points, respectively, as the Raptors limited the Grizzlies to three baskets and 12 points in the final 12 minutes.

The Raptors have won four straight at home, where they are 21-4 overall and outscoring opponents by 11.4 points per game while averaging 112.7 points. Toronto, though, shot a season-low 17.1 percent (6 for 35) from beyond the arc Sunday one game after drilling a season-high 19 3-pointers in blowing out Portland. 

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