The Celtics will try to build more of rhythm on Wednesday night in Toronto with their full roster intact. Boston listed no players on their injury report for Wednesday's matchup in Toronto for one of the first times all season long. The team removed two-way wing Drew Peterson off the injury report after he had been listed for the last two games with a concussion.
Peterson remains on assignment in the G-League along with Boston's other two-way players and rookie Baylor Scheierman. Meanwhile, the Celtics will have the remainder of their roster available in Toronto as they try to win their second straight game against a rebuilding Raptors squad.
Boston's starting five will be watched closely in the matchup given their recent struggles. The team has a -8.9 net rating this season with their usual starting five, a number that ranks among the worst high-usage five man units in the NBA. Boston has gotten off to plenty of slow starts with that group over the last few weeks as the team tries to reestablish some chemistry together in Kristaps Porzingis' return.
"It's not an excuse, like we have to be better -- but it's essentially in a training camp form with this particular group," Joe Mazzulla said Sunday night. "So when you take a look at the numbers of the expected offense versus where they're at now to where they are, you almost had triple the possessions of the time, rhythm, trust. Trust goes into when you have talented guys, the habits, and so I would say it's that, and we have to continue to work towards that. So hopefully we remain healthy to where we can continue those reps, the trust and the accountability that we have to hold each other to get to where we are. And sprinkle in a make."
The Raptors will be without starting point guard Immanuel Quickley (hip) for the matchup but will be otherwise healthy coming off a comeback win over the Warriors on Monday night. The Celtics have won their two previous meetings with the Raptors this season, including a 54-point win at TD Garden on Dec. 31. Boston has won 10 straight games overall head-to-head against the Raptors dating back to March 2022.
Boston and Toronto tip off on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Scotiabank Arena.