Gallery: 8/11
4. Toronto
Record: 21-8
Last week: 5th
The Raptors have won three straight and six of their last seven, strengthening their case as the biggest threat to Cleveland in the East. Currently in the midst of a six-game road trip that began with a win in Utah Friday night, Toronto will play both Golden State (Wednesday) and San Antonio (January 3) before heading home. In Toronto's 104-98 win over the Jazz Kyle Lowry was spectacular, scoring 36 points on 15-for-20 shooting from the field, and defensively the Raptors limited Utah to 44.3 percent shooting from the field. Highly efficient offensively, the Raptors will need to call on their defense at times during this trip, which can be a successful one if they can string together stops. (Getty)
