Raptors vs. Celtics: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

One of the most disappointing teams in the NBA hosts one of the least talented teams in the league on Wednesday when the Toronto Raptors journey to Beantown to take on the Boston Celtics. 

The Raptors are just trying to keep their heads above water. They have stumbled to a 4-10 record out of the gate, with no real hope on the horizon. As bad as they have been, at least Andrea Bargnani has been entertaining to watch. 

The Celtics' age appears to have finally caught up to them. They have lost five straight games, though all of them have come against teams with a winning record. Still, it doesn't help that they have one of the worst offenses in the NBA. 

Where: TD Garden in Boston, MA

When: Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. EDT

Watch: Sportsnet (Toronto); Comcast Sportsnet (Boston)

Live Stream: NBA.com

Betting Line: Boston (-9.5 per Doc Sports)

Key Injuries

Andrea Bargnani and Jerryd Bayless are both expected to sit out of this game, according to Rotoworld. Those two combined average about 31 points per game, which is more than 30 percent of their total offensive output as a team.

The Celtics are going to be without Chris Wilcox and Keyon Dooling in this game, according to ESPN.com. They have no depth at this point, which puts more pressure on their older starters who can't handle the same number of minutes they used to. 

What's At Stake?

The Raptors need to find a spark or something to get excited about. Andrea Bargnani has been dealing with a calf injury that has kept him out of action for the last three games, which has made their already anemic offense look even worse. A win over the Celtics would be a nice confidence boost. 

The Celtics are fading into Eastern Conference oblivion hard and fast. They are still a solid defensive club, but they can't score points. They need to have a big game where everything clicks to get their swagger back and prove they can be a dominant team. 

What They Are Saying

Eric Koreen of the National Post wrote an article about potential changes that the Raptors could be making tonight just to try to stop the bleeding. Mixing up the starting lineup could happen soon to increase the offensive output. 

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Through their first 14 games, the Toronto Raptors have used just two different starting lineups. And the only change was caused by the injury to Andrea Bargnani. Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan, Rasual Butler and Amir Johnson have started every game. Bargnani has started every game he has been healthy for, with Ed Davis taking his place over the last three games.

That will likely change soon, perhaps as early as Wednesday night in Boston. Raptors coach Dwane Casey was playing it coy, but he said he was open to the idea.

“It’s always a possibility,” Casey said. “When you lose five games in a row, change is good. To give a different look, that’s a possibility.

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The Celtics are trying to figure out what kind of team they are going to be this season and in the future. Adrian Wojanrowski of Yahoo Sports thinks that they are looking at rebuilding sooner rather than later. 

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Garnett and Allen come off the Celtics’ cap this summer, but Pierce is the most perplexing member of the Big Three. He has two years and $32 million left on his contract through the 2013-14 season, and moving him for a shorter deal could make the Celtics a huge player in free agency the next two years.

As Boston officials contend, this is the reason they didn’t re-sign Perkins and Tony Allen to long-term contracts. They’ve been preparing for the time their core became too old, for the team’s need to start over. 

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Raptors Player To Watch: PG Jose Calderon

With Bargnani possibly missing another game, Calderon instantly becomes the best offensive weapon the Raptors have. The problem with him is that he is not a great scorer. He shoots the ball well, but he is always looking to pass first. 

His style would work infinitely better on a team that had some actual playmakers around him. As it stands, he has to make everything happen. 

Celtics Player To Watch: PF Kevin Garnett

Garnett has been trending downward for a long time, but this year everything has fallen off a cliff for the former NBA MVP. His .461 shooting percentage and 13.3 points per game are the second-lowest of his career. 

The Celtics have done a good job of acquiring capable backups, like Brandon Bass, who can take pressure off Garnett allow him rest on the bench more often. But they still need him to be a star, and he has played nothing like that this season. 

Key Matchup: Jose Calderon vs. Rajon Rondo

While neither team is dynamic on offense, both feature point guards who are capable of making everyone around them look better. 

Calderon does not have as much talent around him as Rondo does, yet he still averages nine assists per game. That speaks to how well he runs the offense and puts his teammates in positions to make something happen. 

The talent pool around Rondo has dried up a bit due to age and injuries, but he is still doing everything he can to help the Celtics. He has even increased his scoring output this year to make up for Kevin Garnett's drop in production. 

Prediction

It is going to be a low-scoring affair in Boston, but ultimately the Celtics are going to snap their five-game losing streak. 

Celtics 92, Raptors 85

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