Boston Celtics (1-0) at Toronto Raptors (1-1)Friday, October 10, 20257:00 PM ETPreseason Sport #2, Street Sport #2TV: NBCSB, TSN, NBA-LPRadio: 98.5 Sports activities Hub, TSN Radio 1050Scotiabank Enviornment
After a convincing win over the Grizzlies of their first preseason sport, the Celtics now face off with the division rival Toronto Raptors. The Raptors are 1-1 thus far within the preseason, having misplaced 112-108 to the Denver Nuggets and received 130-122 over the Sacramento Kings. That is the third of 6 video games for the Raptors and the 2nd of 4 video games for the Celtics.
The Celtics are break up about evenly between returning and new gamers. They’ve 9 returning gamers and eight new gamers on the crew this season. Gone are Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, Jrue Vacation and Luke Kornet. New gamers embrace Anfernee Simons, Josh Minott, Chris Boucher, Hugo Gonzalez, Max Shulga, and Amari Williams. RJ Lewis, and Luka Garza. Studying one another’s tendencies and constructing chemistry will probably be necessary on this preseason.
The Raptors haven’t modified all that a lot from final season. They misplaced Chris Boucher to the Celtics in free company. They added Sandro Mamukelashvili, additionally in free company. They added Collin Boyles with the ninth choose within the draft and Alijah Martin with the thirty ninth choose within the draft. Their will probably be trying to construct on their basis and develop younger expertise.
The Celtics talked about war-like practices. A number of gamers and coaches have stated that this has been the toughest coaching camp that they’ve been part of. They’ve vowed to play quick and onerous this season. They backed up that vow of their first sport in opposition to the Grizzlies and hopefully they stick with it on this sport and all through the preseason and into the common season.
Payton Pritchard, Anfernee Simons and Neemias Queta all sat out the primary sport for relaxation. I’m guessing that each one 3 will begin on this sport and Derrick White, Xavier Tillman and Sam Hauser will both relaxation or come off the bench. After all I could possibly be all fallacious and Joe will begin 5 fully totally different gamers. I’m considering Jaylen Brown will begin as soon as once more as he doesn’t like sitting out. For the Raptors, I’m together with starters much like their first 2 video games.
Jayson Tatum will as soon as once more sit out this sport because of the torn Achilles. Nonetheless he has followers excited after dunking just lately, simply 5 months after his surgical procedure. Jordan Walsh is questionable after leaving Wednesday’s sport with a groin damage. For the Raptors, Scotty Barnes missed Wednesday’s sport with left knee tendinopathy and Jakob Poeltl missed Wedneday’s sport with again soreness. Ulrich Chomche was out Wednesday for undisclosed causes. All 3 are everyday.
Potential Beginning LineupsPoint Guard

Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Payton Pritchard vs Immanuel Quickley


Anfernee Simons vs RJ Barrett


Jaylen Brown vs Ochai Agbaji


Chris Boucher vs Brandon Ingram


Neemias Queta vs Jonathan Mogbo
Celtics ReservesDerrick WhiteJosh MinottWendell Moore, JrKendall BrownRon Harper, JrJalen BridgesXavier TillmanJordan WalshHugo GonzalezLuka GarzaBaylon Scheierman
2-Means PlayersRJ Luis, JrMax ShulgaAmari Williams
Accidents/OutJayson Tatum (Achilles) outJordan Walsh (groin) questionableHead CoachJoe MazzullaRaptors ReservesJamison BattleGradey DickAJ LawsonSandro MamukelashviliCollin Murray-BoylesJared RhodenDavid RoddyOlivier SarrJamal SheadGarrett TempleJa’Kobe Walter
2-Means PlayersUlrich ChomcheChucky HepburnAlijah Marlin
Accidents/OutScottie Barnes (knee) questionableUlrich Chomche (undisclosed) questionableJakob Poeltl (again) questionableHead CoachDarko Rajakovic


Chris Boucher vs Brandon IngramIngram joined the Raptors on the commerce deadline final 12 months however didn’t play with them within the 2024-25 season as a result of he was injured. Within the first 2 video games of the preseason, he averaged 20 factors, 3.5 rebounds, and a couple of.5 assists whereas capturing 48% from the sphere and 52% from past the arc. Chris Boucher began at energy ahead for the Celtics on Wednesday however might or might not begin on this one.


Anfernee Simons vs RJ Barrett Within the first 2 video games for the Raptors, Barrett averaged 16 factors, 3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1steal per sport whereas capturing 42.8% from the sphere and 55% from past the arc. Barrett began at capturing guard for the Raptors on Wednesday as a result of Scottie Barnes missed the sport. If Barnes is ready to play, he’ll seemingly begin right here and Barrett will transfer to small ahead. It’s only a guess that Simons begins right here for the Celtics.
Honorable MentionPayton Pritchard vs Immanuel QuickleyQuickly began the primary 2 video games for Toronto and I’m going to guess that he begins right here. Over the primary 2 video games, he averaged 8 factors, 1.5 rebounds, and three.5 assists whereas capturing 36.3% from the sphere and 29% from past the arc. Payton Pritchard had the primary sport off and so I’m guessing that he will get the beginning right here and will probably be anxious to make his mark on the sport.
Keys to the GameDefense – Whether or not it’s Summer season League, Preseason, Common Season, or Playoffs, protection will at all times be the important thing to profitable. Within the preseason thus far, the Celtics are ranked eighth with a defensive score of 97.2 whereas the Raptors are ranked nineteenth with a defensive score of 111.4. The Celtics have vowed to emphasise protection this season they usually confirmed that they plan to observe by on it in opposition to the Grizzlies. They should proceed to play powerful lock down protection in each sport.
Rebound – As with protection, rebounding will at all times be a key to profitable each sport. The Celtics Pulled down 49 rebounds on Wednesday and the Raptors averaged 40 rebounds over their first 2 video games. The Celtics might want to rebound as a crew with gamers crashing the boards from each place. The Celtics can’t rating with out the ball and rebounding is a good way to get the ball and to get additional possessions.Take Care of the BallBoth of those groups have restricted turnovers thus far within the preseason, with the Celtics rating 2nd within the league with simply 13 turnovers on Wednesday in opposition to the Grizzlies. The Raptors are ranked 4th with 14.5 turnovers averaged of their first 2 video games. The Celtics should proceed to make cautious passes and keep away from turnovers in the event that they need to hold profitable.X-FactorsRust and Chemistry- That is the Celtics second preseason sport with a number of new faces. They didn’t present a number of rust of their first sport and hopefully that can proceed on this sport. The Raptors have already performed two video games already and have only a few new gamers to work into their system. The Celtics performed effectively collectively on Wednesday and hopefully will proceed to construct chemistry with every sport.Preseason – The preseason is a time for the coaches to get a have a look at gamers who might or might not make the crew, to experiment with lineups and totally different performs. Wins and losses should not as necessary as studying issues in regards to the gamers and the crew. I anticipate that Joe will play a distinct rotation than he did on Wednesday and hopefully they may play effectively collectively.