Breaking down the Raptors’ remaining NBA schedule vs. other East teams in hunt for play-in berth

The end of the NBA regular season is fast approaching and the playoff picture is becoming clearer in the Eastern Conference.

Three teams (Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers) have solidified their positions at the top of the pack with three weeks left in the regular season. Six teams — including the Toronto Raptors — are battling for four spots in the play-in tournament to determine the final two berths in the post-season.

Positioning is important — the seventh- and eighth-place team gets two chances to win a playoff spot. The higher seed hosts the game between the seventh and eighth seed.

The winner of that game advances, while the loser hosts whoever wins the contest between the ninth- and 10th-place team.

Here’s a look at the teams in the running for the play-in competition, how their records stacked up before Monday’s games and the road ahead.

Miami Heat (39-34)

Home games (5): New York (twice), Brooklyn, Dallas, Orlando

Road games (4): Toronto, Detroit, Philadelphia, Washington

Teams above .500 (3): New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia

Breakdown: The Heat are just a game behind the Nets for the sixth seed in the Eastern standings to avoid the play-in scenario. But a bad losing streak could also put them in the mix for ninth place, with Toronto just 3 1/2 games behind them. According to Tankathon.com, the Heat has the easiest strength of schedule of the six teams in the mix for a play-in berth.

Atlanta Hawks (35-36)

Home games (7): Detroit, Indiana, Memphis, Cleveland, Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia

Road games (4): Minnesota, Brooklyn, Chicago, Boston

Teams above .500 (6): Memphis, Cleveland, Dallas, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Boston

Breakdown: The Hawks have three back-to-back scenarios coming up, including a flight to Minnesota for a game Wednesday after hosting Detroit the night before. Atlanta blew a 24-point lead and lost to the Spurs on Sunday night. The Hawks have the toughest strength of schedule remaining of the six teams, according to Tankathon.com.

Toronto Raptors (35-37)

Home games (5): Indiana, Detroit, Washington, Miami, Milwaukee

Road games (5): Philadelphia, Charlotte (twice), Boston (twice)

Teams above .500 (4): Miami, Boston (twice) and Milwaukee

Breakdown: The Raptors face a difficult challenge as they visit the Celtics twice, before concluding at home against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. It’s possible that those teams could rest some of their star players heading into the post-season. Raptors fans are anxiously waiting to see if Scottie Barnes will miss any games after he was hurt Sunday against the Bucks.

Chicago Bulls (33-37)

Home games (5): Philadelphia, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Atlanta, Detroit

Road games (7): Philadelphia, Portland, L.A. Lakers, L.A. Clippers, Charlotte, Milwaukee, Dallas

Teams above .500 (5): Philadelphia, Memphis, L.A. Clippers, Milwaukee and Dallas

Breakdown: The Bulls, who are looking to return to the post-season for the second time in six years, play half their remaining games against the Western Conference with Portland the only team not in the playoff hunt.

Indiana Pacers (32-39)

Home games (6): Dallas, Milwaukee, Oklahoma, New York (twice), Detroit

Road games (5): Charlotte, Toronto, Boston, Atlanta, Cleveland

Teams above .500 (5): Dallas, Milwaukee, New York, Boston and Cleveland

Breakdown: After a hot start to their season, the Pacers have the second toughest remaining scheduleamong these six teams. Indiana, in town Wednesday to face the Raptors, is gaining valuable experience for its young core in the heat of a playoff race.

Washington Wizards (32-39)

Home games (7): Denver, San Antonio, Boston, Orlando, Milwaukee, Miami, Houston

Road games (4): Orlando, New York, Atlanta, Toronto

Teams above .500: Denver, Boston, Milwaukee, Miami, New York

Breakdown: Facing teams that are more interested in their lottery odds (Magic, Spurs and Rockets) should increase the Wizards’ chances for a play-in berth.

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