Raptors vs. Celtics Game Thread: Updates, TV info, and more

The Boston Celtics are having a hard time. Losers of three straight to Miami, Orlando, and Brooklyn, the team with “67-win aspirations” is floundering a bit, sitting in fifth in the Eastern Conference — seven games back of the Raptors in first.

The hard times have been made public, too. Kyrie Irving has called out his younger teammates for not having a championship mindset. Jayson Tatum supported the comments, despite them maybe being about him. With many great individuals on their roster, it looks like Boston is still trying to figure out how to turn this experiment into a cohesive team.

Enter the Toronto Raptors, who might be getting along better than ever.

Swoon. The Raptors have won five straight and are looking to swing the season series against Boston in their favour tonight (the teams have one matchup remaining in Toronto on February 26). In their corner is Kawhi Leonard, of course, who’s the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week and fresh off a 41-point outing in double overtime against the Wiz.

While the Raptors have had continuity issues of their own — injuries have prevented the bench from solidifying, Leonard and Kyle Lowry haven’t spent as much time together as you’d like — there’s something to be said for a team that doesn’t gripe in public.

Who knows, though? Maybe this type of thing will work for the Celtics. They have their own opportunity to make a statement tonight, at home against the East’s best. The matchup is always delicious. Let’s check out the details and get to the comments.

Where to Watch

TSN, 8 PM ET

Lineups

Toronto - Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Pascal Siakam, Serge Ibaka

Boston - Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Morris, Al Horford

Injuries

Toronto - Jonas Valanciunas (out - thumb), OG Anunoby (out - personal), C.J. Miles (questionable - hip)

Boston - none