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In a much-anticipated showdown between two of the East's best teams, the Toronto Raptors will try to earn a win at TD Garden against a suddenly scuffling Boston Celtics squad.
The Raptors own the league's best record at 33-12. They are also on a five-game winning streak and have won eight of their last 10 games.
They will be facing a Celtics team coming off a 0-3 road trip that saw them lose games against the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Brooklyn Nets.
However, Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard doesn't plan on taking the Celtics lightly. Leonard, who was just named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week, told Celtics beat writer Nicole Yang that he knows how talented Boston is, and they shouldn't be judged based on their record alone:
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Kawhi on the Celtics: "They have a lot of talent. It doesn’t matter about where you are in the standings + the expectations + who’s watching. It’s really about how they feel about themselves and the direction they’re going in. We can’t say anything until the playoffs are over."
— Nicole Yang (@nicolecyang) January 16, 2019
Leonard's mindset and approach towards the game is likely based on the Celtics' record at home. Boston is currently 15-5 on its home floor, and with a loyal fan base behind them, it will be a tough game for Toronto.
The Raptors, on the other hand, haven't been bad on the road. They have won 15 of 23 games away from Canada and have been practically dominating the rest of the conference, as they have a 22-7 record against teams in the East.
The Raptors-Celtics game will begin at 8 p.m. ET.
