Basketball fans are in for a thrilling Eastern Conference showdown tonight as two of the league's most exciting teams, the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors, prepare to battle it out. The highly anticipated NBA regular season game is set for Friday, January 9, 2026, at 7:00 pm ET. Both teams enter the contest with identical records, having won 23 games each this season, setting the stage for a fiercely competitive encounter.
When and Where to Watch Celtics vs Raptors
The Boston Celtics will host the Toronto Raptors at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. For viewers in India and globally, the game will be broadcast live on NBCS-BOS and SportsNet. Fans preferring online streaming can catch all the action on Fubo and Prime Video, ensuring no one misses a moment of this pivotal clash.
Expected Lineups and Crucial Injury Reports
Both teams will be fielding lineups impacted by significant absences. The Celtics are expected to start with Payton Pritchard at point guard, Derrick White at shooting guard, Jaylen Brown at small forward, Sam Hauser at power forward, and Neemias Queta at center.
The Raptors' projected starting five features Immanuel Quickley (PG), RJ Barrett (SF), Collin Murray-Boyles (PF), Gradey Dick (SF), and Ja'Kobe Walter (SG).
The injury report, however, tells a story of key players missing. For Boston, Jayson Tatum is OUT with an ACL injury, a massive blow to their offensive firepower. Josh Minott is also out with an ankle issue. Toronto faces its own challenges: Scottie Barnes (knee) and Brandon Ingram (thumb) are both listed as QUESTIONABLE, while Jakob Poeltl (back) and Chucky Hepburn (G League) are ruled OUT.
Game Prediction and Key Player Analysis
This matchup promises to be a close one. The Celtics have shown remarkable consistency, scoring over 223.5 points in 22 games this season. The Raptors are not far behind, achieving the same feat in 20 games. Boston will heavily rely on the scoring prowess of Jaylen Brown, who averages 29.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. Payton Pritchard, contributing 16.9 points and 5.2 assists on average, will be crucial in managing the game.
Toronto's hopes may rest on the fitness of Scottie Barnes (19.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg) and Brandon Ingram (21.8 ppg). If they are unavailable, others like RJ Barrett will need to step up significantly. While the Celtics have the home-court advantage, the absence of Tatum creates a major vulnerability that the Raptors will look to exploit. Expect a high-scoring, nail-biting contest that could go either way, with the team that better handles its star absences coming out on top.
