Toronto Raptors — Boston Celtics 93:98: result and stats

The Toronto Raptors host the Boston Celtics at Scotiabank Arena with their season approaching a critical juncture. Toronto has fought to an even 5-5 despite a punishing run of injuries, but the Celtics arrive as one of the Eastern Conference’s most settled sides, riding a five-game winning streak and an 8-2 record that has them near the top of the standings. The gap in health and cohesion could hardly be wider.

Toronto’s injury crisis deepens

The Raptors will be without Scottie Barnes for a third consecutive game as he manages a left groin strain, and his absence removes the team’s leading scorer and primary offensive hub. Kawhi Leonard remains sidelined with a knee injury that has limited him to just two appearances all season, and Nate Bittle is also out with a foot issue. Immanuel Quickley, Collin Murray-Boyles and Trayce Jackson-Davis are all questionable, leaving head coach Darko Rajaković with a rotation in flux. Jamal Shead has shouldered more responsibility, but the Raptors need far more from a depleted supporting cast that has struggled to generate clean offence without its primary ball-handlers.

Boston’s quiet consistency

The Celtics have avoided the kind of early-season turbulence that has unsettled much of the conference. At 8-2, Boston has paired a top-five offence with a top-five defence, and the starting group of Derrick White, Jordan Walsh, Paul George, Jayson Tatum and Neemias Queta has been reliable on both ends. Tatum continues to operate as the primary option, and White has provided steady two-way play in the backcourt. Boston’s depth has allowed it to absorb minor absences without losing stride, and the Celtics have won five straight, including a comfortable victory over Milwaukee. The concern for Boston is complacency against a wounded opponent, but this group has shown little inclination toward letdowns.

A lopsided recent history

The Celtics have dominated this series of late, winning the last four meetings and sweeping all four games against Toronto last season. The most recent encounter ended in a 115-101 Boston victory in April, and the Celtics have not lost to the Raptors since early 2025. Toronto’s home crowd has not been enough to close the gap, and the Raptors have struggled to contain Boston’s half-court execution. The historical pattern reinforces the sense that this is a matchup defined by Boston’s structure against Toronto’s instability, and the Celtics have consistently exploited the Raptors’ defensive rotations.

Expected lineups and the battle on the glass

Toronto’s expected five, health permitting, features Shead, RJ Barrett, Kyle Anderson, Ja’Kobe Walter and Jakob Poeltl. The Raptors have been one of the league’s better offensive rebounding teams, and Poeltl’s presence inside will be crucial against a Boston frontcourt that has leaned on Queta and George. Boston’s projected starters are White, Walsh, George, Tatum and Queta, with Walsh tasked with defending the opponent’s best perimeter player. The Celtics have been vulnerable on the offensive glass at times, and Toronto’s second-chance points could be one of the few areas where the Raptors hold an edge.

The balance of the matchup

The Celtics are more likely to win at 67 percent, with the Raptors at 33, and the expected combined score sits around 216 points. The estimate has barely moved since the line opened, reflecting a steady view of Boston’s superiority. Toronto’s path to an upset runs through Barrett’s shot-making and a renewed commitment on the defensive glass, but the Raptors have lacked the firepower to keep pace with Boston’s balanced attack. The Celtics have the depth, the health and the recent history on their side, and the matchup against a reeling opponent is exactly the kind of fixture they have converted into comfortable wins.

What is at stake

For Toronto, this is about survival. The Raptors cannot afford to let a difficult stretch spiral into a lost season, and a competitive showing against one of the East’s best would at least offer proof that the gap is not unbridgeable once the roster returns to full strength. For Boston, the priority is maintaining momentum and avoiding the kind of trap-game letdown that can creep in against a short-handed opponent. The Celtics are deeper, healthier and far more settled, and the Raptors will need an exceptional collective effort to keep this one close.

Preview prepared from the match data · 11 November