The Celtics walked into Toronto with the kind of schedule that can chew up a team fast: a game at Scotiabank Arena less than 24 hours after a 123-101 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. That’s the backdrop for Wednesday night, and it leaves Boston trying to keep its streak rolling on tired legs.
The injury list shapes both sides of this one. Boston is without Devin Carter, Paul George, and Amari Williams. Toronto is missing Scottie Barnes, Nate Bittle, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Kawhi Leonard, while Collin Murray-Boyles and Immanuel Quickley are both listed as questionable.
Even with Leonard and Barnes sidelined, this is not the kind of night Boston can expect to coast through. Toronto still has enough talent to make life difficult, particularly on defense, and the Celtics will need a sharp effort to get through the second night of a back-to-back.
The Raptors have been piecing things together since Leonard played in the first two games and then went out. They are 5-5 on the season, and the offense has held up better than the defense. Toronto enters with the NBA’s eighth-best offensive rating at 115.8, but its defensive rating of 112.4 ranks 14th.
Barnes has been the team’s top scorer when available, averaging 23.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field. The three-point shot has not been kind to him, though, as he is at 15.4% on 3.3 attempts per game.
RJ Barrett has been right behind him, averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. He is shooting 45.7% overall and 27.8% from deep on 5.4 attempts a night.
Boston has had Toronto’s number for a while now. The Celtics swept the four meetings last season, and Toronto has not beaten Boston since January 15, 2025. Over the last 16 regular-season games between the teams, Boston is 15-1.
Without Leonard, Toronto’s look is closer to the group Boston saw last season, with Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and possibly Quickley front and center. Sandro Mamukelashvili is no longer with the Raptors after signing with the Los Angeles Lakers this summer, while Brandon Ingram and Gradey Dick were moved to the LA Clippers in the Leonard deal.
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Celtics Suddenly Have A Paul George Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Celtics head into their next stretch with a small but notable wrinkle on the injury report, as Paul George will sit out the upcoming game against Toronto because of an illness. It is a brief absence, but it comes at an awkward time for Boston, which has leaned on Georges steady production early this season and has seen him settle in as one of the teams most reliable options.
George had just been at the center of Bostons win over the 76ers, and his recent form has only reinforced how important he has become to the rotation. He has missed only one other game this season, so this will amount to a rare pause, with extra recovery time now built in before the Celtics see Dallas next. [Read more 🡒]