Celtics vs. Raptors NBA expert prediction and odds for MLK Day (Bet on Boston)

The league's best team Boston Celtics are on the road Monday night to take on the Toronto Raptors, who are fresh off a six game west coast swing.

Boston has won the first three meetings this season against its Atlantic Division foe, two of which by one possession. With the Celtics possibly without Jaylen Brown on Monday, can the team cover the lofty spread in Toronto against the new look Raptors?

Here's how I'm looking to play this one on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

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Celtics injury report

Raptors injury report

Celtics

Derrick White: With Brown out for this one, expect White to pick up the slack alongside Jayson Tatum. White does a ton already, averaging 15 points, grabbing four rebounds and dishing five assists while shooting 41% from beyond the arc.

Raptors

Immanuel Quickley: Quickley has stepped into a heightened role with the Raptors nicely, upping his points average and not seeing a drop-off despite more volume. He is taking more than two shots per game and is shooting 50% from beyond the arc. Overall, he's up over 18 points per game with four rebounds and five assists on more than 30 minutes per game in his seven games with Toronto.

The Raptors are returning home from a lengthy road trip and are welcomed back to the best team in the NBA. Yes, the Celtics will be without Brown, but he actually has a neglible impact on the team, about an even on/off rating this season.

Boston should be able to get whatever it wants on offense against a Raptors team that is 28th in points allowed per 100 possession since trading OG Anunoby and won't be able to slow down the Celtics potent two way attack that is +7 in terms of net rating since the calendar flipped to 2024.

This Raptors team had a cosemetic change with the move for Quickley and RJ Barrett, and are now returning home after a long road trip, I think this team is still running on fumes and gets blasted by a Boston team that won't be challenged against this porous defense.

Give me the Celtics to win and cover.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.