Celtics right on Raptors’ tail

DIVISION RIVALS

good,” Celtics coach Brad Stevens told reporters on Monday about why his team hasn’t found much success against the Raptors.

“(Kyle) Lowry and (DeMar) DeRozan are outstanding players.”

Celtics scoring and assist leader Isaiah Thomas had to miss the first meeting this season due to injury. The meetings between the two rivals are usually tight affairs.

This time around, Boston will have the red-hot Thomas in the lineup, but fellow backcourt starter Avery Bradley, an excellent twoway player, has been ruled out due to an Achilles injury. That slightly alters just how telling this matchup should be — Boston is 15-5 with its full starting lineup.

Then again, Toronto is still without starting small forward Jared Sullinger, the former Boston starter. Perhaps both will be in the lineup for the third of four meetings this season, again at Toronto on Feb. 1.

This has been an extremely difficult stretch for the Raptors.

Tons of travel — this marks the first time the team has played two straight at home since Dec. 5-8 — has been coupled with games against quality opponents. Boston’s visit only adds to the grind.

Still, Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll is staying positive.

“(Against Houston on Saturday) we started out good and it’s like our energy, we were just dead,” Carroll told Postmedia.

“You could see it in a lot of the guys, even Kyle. He was a little tired, but, I think this is the toughest part of our schedule. If we can sustain this and keep our place where we are at in the conference — hopefully we can make a run toward the end (of the season) for the No. 1 seed.”

Before they can worry about No. 1, the Raptors need to pull away from No. 3 Boston yet again. Tuesday’s game can get them started on that task.