Raptors Face Playoff Hurdles, Home Court on Line

0:00This is Corey with NBA News Today, powered by The Daily News Now. Subscribe for daily updates on your team. The Toronto Raptors are heading into the final stretch of the regular season, with just over a month left. They sit in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, holding a solid spot for the playoffs. Across major power rankings, they land between 10th and 12th, showing steady play against weaker teams but clear gaps elsewhere. Hiding losses to top squads like the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs highlight their challenges. The Raptors are just one in 13 against the top three teams in the East and the top five in the West. They have eight more games left against those powerhouses, starting this week. Experts note the team's top 10 defense as a strength, but question their playoff ceiling. Some say they are underrated at these rankings, while others point to low scoring and assist numbers in big losses as red flags. Even in comebacks, like against the Washington Wizards, show fight but inconsistency. Looking ahead, they face the New York Knicks on Tuesday at home, therefore match up this

1:03season. Winds here could build momentum and help secure home court in the first round, avoiding the play in tournament. Overall, the focus is on gaining confidence before the postseason. This growth sets them up to learn from shortcomings and tweak things in the off season, even if a deep run looks tough this year.