The Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics will square off for Game 6 in their Eastern Conference semifinal round Wednesday. This could be the series’s final game, as the Celtics hold a 3-2 lead.
Boston won the first two games of this series, but Toronto came back for two straight victories. That set the stage for a pivotal Game 5, and the Celtics earned a 111-89 blowout win.
Now the defending champion Raptors will be looking to keep their season alive against a young and hungry team. The winner of this series will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals where the Miami Heat are waiting.
FanDuel Sportsbook has the Boston Celtics as 3.0-point favorites in this elimination game.
Raptors Must Find Offense
If the Toronto Raptors are going to keep their season alive, they must find a way to score more points in this game. Toronto managed just 89 points in the Game 5 loss and had only 35 points at halftime.
The Raptors shot just 30 percent from the three-point line, which has been a consistent theme so far in this series. Toronto has shot it well this season, but the Celtics aren’t giving them many clean looks.
Pascal Siakam only scored 10 points on Monday night, and he has found things to be difficult against the terrific Boston defense. Siakam can carry the Raptors on offense, but he must turn things around in a hurry.
The Raptors are not a very deep team, and they need their starting unit to do most of the scoring. Serge Ibaka does provide some scoring off the bench, but Kyle Lowry and Siakam will have to lead the way.
Toronto has played solid defense throughout this series, but they must shoot the ball better to win this game.
Brown, Tatum Carrying Celtics
The Boston Celtics have two young stars in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, and both players have been great against the Raptors. Brown had 27 points to lead the Celtics in Game 5, and Tatum chipped in with 18.
Boston got 18 points from their reserves on Monday night, but their starting unit all played exceptionally well. Every starter had at least 12 points in that win, and a similar performance in Game 6 will likely close out this series.
The Celtics only shot 32 percent from deep in Game 5, but they have been able to find plenty of offense in the paint. Boston now has plenty of momentum, and they won’t want to let this series head to a Game 7.
Boston has been the better defensive team in this series as well, and that defense will help them take control of another game.
Celtics Eliminate Defending Champ
It’s never easy to eliminate a champion, but that’s what the Boston Celtics will do in this game. Boston has been the better team all series long, and the Raptors are fortunate that it even advanced to a Game 6.
Boston has been scoring the ball well in this series, and the Raptors just haven’t been able to slow them down. Toronto is not shooting the ball well, and that is not going to change in this game.
The Raptors had a terrific 2020 season, but it comes to an end on Wednesday night. The Celtics advance to take on the Miami Heat in the conference finals.
Bet the Boston Celtics -3.0 over the Toronto Raptors in Game 6.
