Only three teams have gotten in the Celtics’ way so far, and there aren’t many challenges on the horizon. Saturday night will likely be no exception.

Boston, ranked second in the Eastern Conference standings, will host the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics hope to revive a win streak that hasn’t exceeded two games since early November.

At 2-11, the Raptors have the worst record in the NBA. Center Jakob Poeltl ranks seventh in the league with a team-leading 11.1 rebounds per game. Shooting guard RJ Barrett has the ninth-most turnovers in the league (3.6).

With small forward Jayson Tatum at the helm, the reigning champions have thrived this season. Tatum averages 30.2 points and 4.2 3-pointers, ranking third and fourth in the league, respectively.

But, his career performance against Toronto is significantly lower. In 23 games, he’s averaged 18.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists.

Let’s get into it.

When: Saturday, 8 p.m.

Where: TD Garden, Boston

TV, radio: NBCSB, WBZ-FM 98.5

Line: Boston -16.5. O/U: 228.5.

RAPTORS

Season record: 2-10. vs. spread: 8-4. Over/under: 7-5

Last 10 games: 1-9. vs. spread: 7-3. Over/under: 5-5

CELTICS

Season record: 10-3. vs. spread: 7-6. Over/under: 6-6, 1 push

Last 10 games: 7-3. vs. spread: 5-5. Over/under: 4-5, 1 push

TEAM STATISTICS

Points per game: Toronto 112.8, Boston 121.3

Points allowed per game: Toronto 120.8, Boston 110.5

Field goal percentage: Toronto .458, Boston .461

Opponent field goal percentage: Toronto .478, Boston .466

3-point percentage: Toronto .332, Boston .373

Opponent 3-point percentage: Toronto .346, Boston .344

Stat of the day: The Celtics averaged 109 points across 15 wins and five losses since Sept. 2020 against the Raptors.

Notes: The Raptors will attempt to collect their first road victory Saturday night when they visit the Celtics for the first of four meetings between the teams this season. … The Raptors are 0-7 in road games. The Celtics are only 3-2 at home but 10-3 overall. … It will be the second game in as many nights for Toronto, which is coming off Friday night’s 99-95 loss against Detroit in the second NBA Cup game for each team. The loss extended Toronto’s overall losing streak to six games. … Boston hasn’t played since it beat Brooklyn 139-114 Wednesday night. … The 139 points were the most the Celtics have scored in a game this season. Boston scored 74 points in the second half. … Tatum, at an average of 30.2 points a game, and Brown (25.4) are Boston’s leading scorers this season. Tatum also leads the team in rebounds (7.6) and steals (1.5). Brown is second on the team in rebounds (7.2) and is tied with Pritchard for second in steals (1.2).

Alexa Podalsky can be reached at alexa.podalsky@globe.com.

Boston officials are considering whether a fee on vacant storefronts in the city’s neighborhoods could boost the local economy by pushing commercial landlords to bring in tenants.

According to Chief of Economic Opportunity and Inclusion Segun Idowu, long-term vacant storefronts can lead to decreased property values, crime and disinvestment in the area, as well as a “negative vibe” of blight. These issues particularly affect communities of color in neighborhoods such as Roxbury and Mattapan, he said.

“The hustle and bustle of our main streets is important not just for supporting small businesses, but attracting others to the neighborhood, making folks want to live in that area because of what’s right down the street from them,” Idowu said during a Friday morning hearing of the Committee on Small Business and Professional Licensure. “When there are too many vacancies in our main streets, other businesses are negatively impacted.”

Data Skrive

One of the best runners in college football will be on display when Brashard Smith and the SMU Mustangs (8-1) take on the Boston College Eagles (5-4) on Saturday, November 16, 2024.

You should check out ESPN in order to watch this game.

Keep up with college football all season on FOX Sports.

Learn more about the SMU Mustangs and the Boston College Eagles.

How to Watch SMU vs. Boston College

• When: Saturday, November 16, 2024 at 3:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Gerald J. Ford Stadium in University Park, Texas
• Live Box Score: FOX Sports

Read More About This Game

• SMU vs. Boston College Predictions

SMU’s 2024 Schedule

SMU 2024 Stats & Insights

• SMU has the 46th-ranked defense this season (341 yards allowed per game), and has been more effective on the other side of the ball, ranking 21st-best with a tally of 446.1 yards per game.
• With 251 passing yards allowed per game on defense, which ranks 22nd-worst in the FBS, SMU has had to rely on their 43rd-ranked passing offense (249.6 passing yards per contest) to keep them in games.
• Offensively, the Mustangs have been a top-25 unit, ranking sixth-best in the FBS by totaling 40.1 points per game. They rank 38th on defense (21.8 points allowed per game).
• The Mustangs rank 29th in rushing yards this season (196.6 rushing yards per game), but they’ve been playing really well on the other side of the ball, ranking fourth-best in the FBS with 90 rushing yards allowed per game.
• SMU has been making things happen on both sides of the ball on third down this year, owning the 19th-best mark in third-down conversion rate (46.6%) and 23rd-best in third-down defense (33.1% third-down percentage allowed).
• The Mustangs have forced 19 total turnovers (11th in the FBS) this season and have turned it over 16 times (102nd in the FBS) for a turnover margin of +3, 46th-ranked in college football.

SMU 2024 Key Players

Boston College’s 2024 Schedule

Boston College 2024 Stats & Insights

• Boston College ranks 97th with 354.2 total yards per contest on offense, and it ranks 73rd with 372.7 total yards allowed per contest on the defensive side of the ball.
• Boston College ranks 20th-worst in passing yards per game (178.7), but it has been more productive on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 103rd in the FBS with 243.3 passing yards ceded per contest.
• The Eagles rank 72nd in the FBS with 27.6 points per game on offense, and they rank 55th with 23 points given up per game on the defensive side of the ball.
• The Eagles are compiling 175.6 rushing yards per contest on offense this season (49th-ranked). Meanwhile, they are allowing 129.3 rushing yards per contest (44th-ranked) on defense.
• Boston College is generating a 43.9% third-down conversion rate on offense this season (35th-ranked). Meanwhile, it is giving up a 36.8% third-down rate (52nd-ranked) on defense.
• At +4, the Eagles own the 33rd-ranked turnover margin in the FBS, with 17 forced turnovers (21st in the FBS) and 13 turnovers committed (62nd in the FBS).

Boston College 2024 Key Players

FOX Sports created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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