BSJ Live Coverage: Celtics at Raptors 7:00 p.m. - A grueling back-to-back

BOSTON CELTICS at TORONTO RAPTORS

Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada

Game time: 7:00 p.m.

TV: NBC Sports Boston

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub

Celtics injury report:

• Devin Carter - OUT (G League, two-way)
• Paul George - OUT (illness)
• Amari Williams - OUT (G League, two-way)

Raptors injury report:

• Scottie Barnes - OUT (left groin strain)

• Nate Bittle - OUT (right avulsion fracture)

• Trayce Jackson-Davis - OUT (illness)

• Kawhi Leonard - OUT (left knee injury management)

• Collin Murray-Boyles - QUESTIONABLE (illness)

• Immanuel Quickley - QUESTIONABLE (right hamstring injury management)

Preview: Wednesday night will be quite different from the Boston Celtics' torrid affair on Tuesday. They visited Jaylen Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers, picking up a monstrous 123-101 victory.

Now, less than 24 hours later, they'll have to gear up for a matchup with the Toronto Raptors. Even though Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes won't be active, this isn't a game Boston can simply gallop past.

The Raptors still have talented pieces, especially on the defensive end. And with very little rest to work with, it will take a big-time Celtics effort to maintain their current win streak.

Last season: The Celtics played the Raptors four times last season, going unbeaten. In fact, Toronto hasn't beaten Boston since January 15, 2025, and the Celtics are 15-1 in their last 16 regular-season games against the Raptors.

Without Leonard, this will be a somewhat similar Raptors team to the one Boston squared off against last season. It will be headlined by RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and, if active, Immanuel Quickley. 

Sandro Mamukelashvili is no longer in Toronto, as he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer. Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick are also done. They were sent off to the LA Clippers in the Leonard deal.

Quick stats: Toronto is 5-5 so far this season. Leonard appeared in the first two games (2-0) and has been out since. The Raptors have been trying to put together the pieces in his absence.

The offense has been there. They have the eighth-best offensive rating (115.8) in the NBA. The defense, which has a ton of potential, hasn't quite lived up to par, sitting at just 14th in defensive rating (112.4).

Barnes has led the team in scoring (when healthy). He is averaging 23.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field but just 15.4% from deep on 3.3 3-point attempts per contest.

Right behind him is Barrett, who is putting up 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. He is shooting 45.7% from the floor and 27.8% from distance on 5.4 threes a night.

Jamison Battle has been the Raptors' best 3-point shooter this year. He's launching 4.9 threes per game and shooting 42.9%. Alijah Martin has also shot well, though on a smaller sample size: 53.3% on 1.7 3-point attempts per contest.