The Raptors are starting to heat up at the right time.
With the trade deadline and All-Star break in the rearview mirror, all focus shifts to the Eastern Conference playoff push with less than 20 games left in the season.
Toronto was expected to be sellers at the deadline but instead acquired starting center Jakob Poeltl and the team hasn't looked back since. It has won eight of its last 10 games and has gone 5-2 since inserting Poeltl into the lineup, cementing itself in the East Play-In picture.
After picking up a massive win over the Bulls on Tuesday, the Raptors are set to embark on a crucial five-game road trip that begins with two games in Washington and concludes with two games in Los Angeles.
How will Toronto's road trip impact its playoff push? The Sporting News has you covered below.
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Raptors upcoming schedule
Thursday, March 2 & Saturday, March 4 — at Wizards
The Wizards are starting to play some of their best basketball of the season when they need it most. Prior to the All-Star break, Washington rattled off 10 wins in 14 games to surge into the East Play-In picture.
Washington currently holds the 10th seed — they are one game back from the ninth-place Raptors and hold a 1.5-game lead over the 11th-place Bulls.
MORE: Why a top eight finish could be the difference in Raptors making the playoffs
Beyond being side-by-side in the standings, these games are vital for the Raptors and Wizards because their head-to-head tiebreaker is still up for grabs.
Toronto and Washington haven't played each other yet this season, leaving three matchups down the home stretch of the season to decide who wins the tiebreaker in any potential seeding scenarios.
Both of these games should have a playoff atmosphere.
Monday, March 6 — at Nuggets
Facing off against the No. 1 seed Nuggets on the road will be a tough test for the Raptors.
Superstar center Nikola Jokic is the frontrunner to win his third-consecutive MVP award, averaging a triple-double of 24.6 points, 11.7 rebounds and 10.0 assists per game. Insanely enough, Jokic has recorded a triple-double in 15 (!) of his last 20 games.
This is the exact type of matchup that explains why the Raptors went and got Poeltl at the deadline, giving Toronto a big man who can stack up against some of the best centers in the league.
Wednesday, March 8 — at Clippers
The Clippers are 0-3 since scooping Russell Westbrook off of the buyout market, but Kawhi Leonard has shaken off the rust and looks like his usual self again. Over his last five games, Leonard is averaging 29.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.2 steals and 1.0 blocks on .547/.576/.929 shooting splits.
The Raptors will have their hands full trying to contain their former Finals MVP.
Friday, March 10 — at Lakers
Sitting outside of the Play-In picture in the West, the Lakers need every win they can get. It's unlikely that LeBron James will be back in time for this meeting with the Raptors, as the superstar forward is out indefinitely with a foot injury.
The player to monitor for this one is Anthony Davis, who is also dealing with a nagging foot injury. Los Angeles will have three days off before this meeting with Toronto, so Davis should be available to play. If he's not, it could be an easier matchup for the Raptors to close their road trip.
Raptors remaining strength of schedule
According to Tankathon, the Raptors have the hardest remaining schedule in the NBA. Take a look at some of their toughest and easiest remaining opponents.
- Toughest: Bucks (x2), Celtics (x2), Nuggets (x2), 76ers, Heat, Clippers
- Easiest: Wizards (x3), Hornets (x2), Pistons, Pacers, Thunder, Lakers
Below, you can find the next five games on Toronto's schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
| March 2 | at Wizards | 7 p.m. |
| March 4 | at Wizards | 5 p.m. |
| March 6 | at Nuggets | 9 p.m. |
| March 8 | at Clippers | 10 p.m. |
| March 10 | at Lakers | 10:30 p.m. |
Raptors NBA playoff odds
Before the Raptors' win over the Bulls, FiveThirtyEight's model gave Toronto a 45 percent chance of qualifying for the playoffs. After the victory, the Raptors' playoff odds increased to 48 percent, as they are now projected to finish seventh in the East with a 41-41 record.
