It was clear both the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics were no match for their first-round opponents.
Missing Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and a flurry of other rotation players, Toronto made quick work of the Brooklyn Nets en route to the first playoff sweep in franchise history. Meanwhile, the Celtics took advantage of a discombobulated Philadelphia 76ers team playing without Ben Simmons.
It’s been an easy road thus far for the Atlantic Division rivals, but it’s about to get a lot tougher as they’ll meet in the conference semifinals beginning on Thursday. It will be the first-ever meeting between these two clubs in the postseason.
The Raptors open as the slight favourite, coming in at -125 compared to +105 for the Celtics, according to SportsBetting.ag.
Despite the slight advantage at the sportsbooks, the Celtics are one of the few teams Toronto has had trouble with this season. Boston handed the Raptors their only loss in the bubble thus far with a 122-100 drubbing back on Aug. 7. The green and white also took home two of the three regular season meetings before the NBA paused in mid-March, including a lopsided victory in Toronto on Christmas Day.
As for the odds to win it all, the Raptors (13/2) and Celtics (15/2) sit fourth and fifth, respectively, behind the Los Angeles Clippers (3/2), Los Angeles Lakers (3/2) and Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee is also a heavy favourite to emerge out of the Eastern Conference, sitting at 10/11 compared to the Raps (3/1) and Celtics (7/2).
Here are some other odds from around the NBA, including how likely Gregg Popovich is to return to the San Antonio Spurs in light of rumours tying him to the Brooklyn Nets, and whether or not the Sixers will make a drastic roster move in the off-season following their meek first-round exit.
Will Gregg Popovich be Spurs head coach next season? Yes -600 No +425
Nets Next Head Coach Gregg Popovich 5/2 Jacque Vaughn 5/2 Tyronn Lue 5/2 Mark Jackson 3/1 Jason Kidd 4/1 Jeff Van Gundy 7/1 Darvin Ham 10/1 Ime Udoka 10/1 Rick Pitino 10/1 Mike Krzyzewski 12/1 John Calipari 15/1 Tom Izzo 15/1 Juwan Howard 15/1 Jay Wright 18/1 Adam Harrington 20/1 Tim Duncan 50/1
76ers Next Head Coach Ime Udoka 3/1 Kenny Atkinson 4/1 Tyronn Lue 4/1 Jay Wright 5/1 Wes Unseld Jr. 6/1 Jeff Van Gundy 15/2 Mark Jackson 15/2 Stan Van Gundy 15/2 Adrian Griffin 8/1 Darvin Ham 8/1 Juwan Howard 10/1 Jason Kidd 10/1 Becky Hammon 15/1 Phil Jackson 33/1 Charles Barkley 66/1 Allen Iverson 125/1
Will Elton Brand be fired or resign as 76ers GM? Yes +225 No -350
Will Ben Simmons be on 76ers roster next season? Yes -500 No +300
Will Joel Embiid be on 76ers roster next season? Yes -800 No +425
Will Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid be on 76ers roster next season? Yes -300 No +200
Will Al Horford be on 76ers roster next season? Yes -1500 No +600
Series Odds Celtics +105 Raptors -125
Game 1 Celtics PK Raptors PK Over/Under 216
NBA Finals Los Angeles Clippers 3/2 Los Angeles Lakers 3/2 Milwaukee Bucks 7/2 Toronto Raptors 13/2 Boston Celtics 15/2 Houston Rockets 10/1 Miami Heat 20/1 Dallas Mavericks 25/1 Utah Jazz 33/1 Portland Blazers 100/1 Oklahoma City Thunder 150/1 Denver Nuggets 200/1 Indiana Pacers 500/1 Orlando Magic 500/1
Eastern Conference Milwaukee Bucks 10/11 Toronto Raptors 3/1 Boston Celtics 7/2 Miami Heat 15/2 Indiana Pacers 250/1 Orlando Magic 250/1
Western Conference Los Angeles Clippers 3/2 Los Angeles Lakers 3/2 Houston Rockets 11/2 Dallas Mavericks 12/1 Utah Jazz 15/1 Oklahoma City Thunder 66/1 Portland Trail Blazers 66/1 Denver Nuggets 100/1
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
