Red-hot Raptors resume playoff push

Toronto Raptors forward Chris Bosh is averaging career highs of 23.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season.

One of the hottest teams in the NBA heading into the all-star break, the Toronto Raptors hope the layoff didn't kill their momentum as they charged up the Eastern Conference standings.

The Raptors are back in action Wednesday night — their first game in a week — hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers as they look to win their ninth consecutive game at home.

Toronto tops the Atlantic Division (4½ games ahead of the New Jersey Nets) with a 29-24 record, and fourth in the Eastern Conference (just two games behind Cleveland and the Indiana Pacers).

After losing eight of their first 10 games this season, the Raptors, who set a franchise record with 10 consecutive victories spanning the 2001-02 and 2002-03 campaigns, rebounded by going 27-16 to solidify their place as one of the top teams in the East.

"A lot of people counted us out. A lot of people said, 'Here we go again,'" Toronto forward Morris Peterson said. "But if you look at our schedule we started out with the toughest part of our schedule."

The Raptors played six of its first 10 games away from Toronto, including a season-high five-game trip before posting a 95-87 home win over Cleveland on Nov. 22. The victory over the Cavaliers sparked the club's turnaround. "When we were 2-8, coming back from that trip, playing Cleveland, nobody thought we had a chance that game and we won it," Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. "Not only did we win it, we played very well. It's just something about those guys, they won't quit."

Leading the Raptors has been all-star Chris Bosh. The power forward is having a breakout season and has benefited from two pass-first point guards (T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon) who know the offence runs through him.

Bosh has also added an element of decisiveness and consistency to his game, which has translated to huge stats — he is averaging career highs of 23.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game this season.

Bosh is expected to put up 20 points and 10 rebounds nightly, and it's rare when he doesn't deliver. Those MVP chants at the Air Canada Centre may be a tad premature, but Toronto fans should keep practising — they may get to use them for real very soon.

The Raptors have grown increasingly stronger with each passing month and, barring any major injuries, there's every reason to believe that the team will be back in the post-season for the first time since 2002.

Of Toronto's 29 remaining games, 15 will be at the Air Canada Centre, where the team boasts a 19-7 record.

Toronto hosts Indiana on Friday night.