NBA Playoffs, 9/3/20 Raptors vs. Celtics Game 3 Predictions & Betting Odds

Raptors vs. Celtics Game 3 Prediction

Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals will occur tonight in Orlando between the Raptors and Celtics, with tip-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET. Will the Raptors win their first game of the series or will the Celtics take a commanding 3-0 lead?

Game Snapshot

Who: Raptors (53-19) vs. Celtics (48-24)

What: NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs Semi-Finals Round Game 3

Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Lake Buena Vista, FL

When: 6:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, September 3, 2020

Betting Odds: Raptors -1; O/U 215 (Check out our NBA Public Betting Chart Page as well)

Toronto Raptors DFS Spin

Kyle Lowry hit just 5-of-16 shots and missed all seven of his 3-point attempts for 16 points, five rebounds, seven assists, four steals and a block in 40 minutes of Tuesday's Game 2 loss to the Celtics. The Raptors find themselves in an 0-2 hole against the Celtics and Toronto's backcourt was a disappointment tonight, at least as far as shooting goes. Fred VanVleet hit just 8-of-22 shots and 3-of-12 3-pointers for 19 points, five rebounds and seven assists in the loss. Their counting stats were salvageable in fantasy, but the poor shooting hurt the Raptors badly tonight, especially since they held a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter. Lowry is now 1-of-12 from deep in this series, and hit 8-of-23 3-point attempts in his four games against the Nets. VanVleet has really cooled off, hitting just 5-of-23 3-point attempts against the Celtics after hitting 19-of-34 attempts in four games against the Nets in Round 1. FVV also missed the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer tonight and Boston's Marcus Smart has a lot to do with his recent struggles.

Boston Celtics DFS Spin

Kemba Walker hit 6-of-18 shots, 1-of-8 3-pointers and 4-of-5 free throws on his way to 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in the Celtics big 102-99 win over the Raptors to take a 2-0 lead in their second-round series on Tuesday. Walker had a dreadful first half, missing all eight of his shots, and was just 2-of-14 through three quarters. But he came to life in the fourth when he hit 4-of-4 shots, including a 3-pointer, and was the only Celtic to hit a field goal in the final five minutes, as well as the only one to score at all in the final three minutes. "I've missed so many shots in my life," said Walker. "I'm never going to get down on myself. I'm going to find ways to help my teammates. I thought tonight, I thought I stayed solid defensively, which was most important." Paging Dr. Irving...

Raptors vs. Celtics NBA Playoffs Prediction

It’s difficult to envision the defending champs eventually getting swept in the second round this season but it could happen given the way Jayson Tatum and the Celtics are playing right now. Tatum hit 8-of-17 shots, four 3-pointers and was 14-for-14 at the free throw line on his way to a playoff career-high of 34 points. He’s been the key to this series and not that he wasn’t an emerging star coming into these playoffs, but we’re watching him take it to the next level this postseason.

Smart and Boston’s defense has been a huge problem for Lowry and Toronto this series and I see that continuing tonight. Just like the Bucks in their series with the Heat, the Raptors don’t seem to have an answer to shake some of their key scorers loose so that they can create easier buckets and with that, I’ll take the 1-point in what I see as another Boston victory tonight.

NBA PLAYOFFS EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS PREDICTION: BOSTON CELTICS +1