In a long NBA season, there are games — and then there are games.
When the Boston Celtics come into Toronto to take on the Raptors on a Friday night in 2018, it’s a gotdamn game.
Let’s summarize the situation. Both teams are coming off comfortable opening night wins, with the Celtics beating up on the Sixers, 105-87, while the Raptors took down the Cavaliers (recapped here and here). Both teams are also working in very good (or perhaps great) NBA players — the Celtics have a returning Gordon Hayward (and to a certain extent, Kyrie Irving); the Raptors, as you may have heard, now have Kawhi Leonard.