Celtics bring league-best net rating to Raptors without Barnes

The Boston Celtics (9-2) visit the Toronto Raptors (5-5) at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday, with Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard out and Toronto's turnover-forcing defense facing Boston's careful offense.

Boston owns the league's best net rating, 11.9, built on the third-ranked offense (117.4 points per 100 possessions) and the sixth-ranked defense (105.5). Toronto is 13th in net rating.

Tempo and the ball shape the game. Toronto plays at the fourth-fastest pace and forces turnovers on 17% of opponents' possessions, the highest rate in the league. Boston plays at the third-slowest pace and ranks eighth in turnover rate, so the Raptors' open-floor chances depend on prying loose a ball the Celtics rarely give up.

The shooting favors the visitors. Boston takes 47.6% of its shots from three, fifth in the league, while Toronto allows an effective field-goal percentage of 55.5, 23rd. The Raptors also send opponents to the line more often than all but one team.

Toronto's best counter is the offensive glass. The Raptors rank second in offensive rebounding rate at 32.5%, and Boston ranks 24th on the defensive boards, so second chances are where the home team can close the gap.

Jayson Tatum runs Boston's offense with 26.5 points and 7.4 assists a game, and Paul George averages 2.1 steals. For Toronto, Jamal Shead hands out seven assists a game in 24.2 minutes, and Jakob Poeltl leads the team with 0.9 blocks.

Barnes leads the Raptors with 23.5 points and 7.6 rebounds and is expected back Thursday, November 12. Leonard averaged 3.5 steals in his two games and is expected back Monday, November 23. Immanuel Quickley, who plays 31.8 minutes a game, Collin Murray-Boyles and Trayce Jackson-Davis are questionable. Boston has no one on the injury report.

The Celtics arrive on a four-game winning streak that includes a 123-101 win at Philadelphia and a 119-80 win at Charlotte. Toronto lost its last game 118-102 at home to Memphis.

Sportsbooks' prices give Boston a 71% chance to win. Keel's projection, blended with the market, gives the Celtics 70% and a 5.8-point margin.