Raptors vs. Celtics Game Thread: Pre-game updates, TV info, and more

Memory is a finicky thing. And momentum, assuming we set aside its mass times velocity calculation, even more so. With the Toronto Raptors, we often have a hard time contextualizing the former, and an easy time giving ourselves over to the latter. We don’t remember anything that’s happened, except the stuff that’s informing our feelings in the moment. It’s why things are suddenly very bad, when most of the time, they’ve been very good.

The Raptors lost to the Celtics last Saturday, then lost to the Cavaliers yesterday night. They are now setting up to host the Celtics one more time. They’ll finish the season with a 1-2 record against the Cavs — remember when the Raps blew them out? — and, at best, a 2-2 record against Boston — remember when the Raps blew them out? It feels only somewhat comforting to recall all of this.

Toronto has been ranked 18th in defensive efficiency over the past month, though they’ve been first in the league with their offense during the same span. In many ways, despite the counters tossed at them — the Celt’s 2-3 zone and big lineups, for example — Toronto has not slowed down. Maybe this is just a bad stretch, where tired legs meet tired minds, and we all are just looking for the playoffs to start. Teams have bounced back before, and they usually didn’t rip off 19-2 stretches, or have just one two-game losing streak in three months.

Or maybe it really is something else. Maybe momentum is threatening to run memory right off the road. Maybe the Raptors are in a fight with themselves, like us, to remember they are the better team more often than not.

In any case, here’s the Raps-Celts preview from Sully Akbari. Now, let’s watch.

Where to Watch:

TSN 4/5, 8:00pm EST

Lineups:

Toronto – Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, OG Anunoby, Serge Ibaka, Jonas Valanciunas

Boston – Terry Rozier, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Aron Baynes

Injuries:

Toronto – None

Boston – Kyrie Irving, Shane Larkin, Marcus Smart, Daniel Theis, Gordon Hayward

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