Raptors at Celtics
The Boston Celtics had a season-low 17 assists and were handed a five-point loss in Brooklyn on Thursday as point guard Rajon Rondo sat out with a sprained right ankle. Rondo's status is uncertain for Saturday afternoon's contest against visiting Toronto and if he is unable to play, the Celtics hope not to have similar issues.
The Raptors can relate as they have begun with six losses in eight games and have been without Kyle Lowry. The point guard averaged 23.7 points in his first three games but has sat out the last five with a bruised right foot and Toronto lost four straight before getting a 74-72 win in Indiana on Tuesday in a game that followed a triple-overtime home loss to Utah and saw them score a franchise-low five points in the fourth quarter.
TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), Comcast SportsNet New England (Boston)
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (2-6): Jose Calderon has filled in nicely for Lowry at the point and is averaging 12.7 assists over his last three outings. He recorded his first career triple-double Tuesday as he collected 13 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. The Raptors won for the fourth time in franchise history when they scored under 75 points and did so in spite of going 1-of-15 from the floor in the fourth quarter. Landry Fields, who signed a three-year contract with Toronto in the offseason, has missed the last three games with an injured right hand and wrist and is not expected to play
ABOUT THE CELTICS (5-4): The Celtics are one of four teams averaging 24 or more assists. Even though they had a season-low total without Rondo, the Celtics still scored 97 points and made 7-of-13 three-pointers. Leandro Barbosa started for Rondo and had two assists while scoring 17 assists. Swingman Courtney Lee had his most productive game Thursday as he scored a season-high 13 points and led the team with nine rebounds in 33 minutes. Paul Pierce has scored at least 20 points in four of his last five games.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Though the teams split the four-game series last season, the Celtics have won their last eight home games against the Raptors. They won the two games by an average of 29.5 points.
2. Toronto has allowed an average of 107 points in its last eight visits to Boston.
3. Boston has split its first four home games and has been outscored by 42 points in the paint in those games.