Raptors Making a Playoff Push in Final 10 Games
Six teams are scrapping it out in the NBA’s Eastern Conference for the four available spots to make the play-in tournament. From there, two of those teams make the NBA playoffs.
With just 10 more games in their season, the Raptors sit in ninth place in the East – 35-37, 4.5 games out of the sixth spot, which would automatically get them into the playoffs, just 2.5 games up on Washington Wizards, who are in the 11th slot.
Raptors' Playoff Odds Down the Stretch
NorthStar Bets has the Eastern Conference play-in tournament odds as follows:
- Atlanta Hawks (1.02)
- Raptors (1.02)
- Chicago Bulls (1.1)
- Miami Heat (1.25)
- Brooklyn Nets (2.5)
- Washington Wizards (3.4)
- Indiana Pacers (7.5)
Over the Raptors' final 10 games, five are at home, and they play four games against teams above .500 - the Heat, Boston Celtics (twice) and the Milwaukee Bucks. Both those Celtics games are in Boston, currently second in the Eastern Conference.
On Thursday, the Raptors take on the Indiana Pacers at Scotiabank Arena, the first of a key four-game home set. The Raptors have a 23-13 record at home.
Fred VanVleet Leading the Way
As of late, the story on Toronto front has been more the leadership of G Fred VanVleet, who had a team-high 23 points, 11 assists and four rebounds in Toronto’s last game - Sunday night against the league-leading Bucks, 118-111, a game they were in and could have won, if not for a fourth-quarter lapse.
That snapped a three-game winning streak.
VanVleet has scored double-digit points in 23 of his last 25 games, including 20 or more points 12 times. He has tallied six or more assists in 12 straight games, averaging 9.4 assists in that span.
O.G. Anunoby had 22 points against the Bucks and added four rebounds in 37 minutes. C Jakob Poeltl posted 20 points. Poeltl leads the team in rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage, and is third in steals since joining the team in a trade on Feb. 10.
However, once again with the Raptors, the anchor is injuries. We are still waiting on an update on Scottie Barnes’ wrist injury. X-Rays were negative. Barnes hurt his wrist in the Bucks’ game. He got a further evaluation yesterday.
Going into Thursday’s game – the Pacers have lost two in a row, and sit at 32-40 on the season, a half-game back of the Wizards.
And if you’re interested – BetMGM has the Raptors currently at 151.0 to win the NBA Championship – down from 301.0 last week.
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