Raptors Secure play-in tournament spot with victory against Hornets

The Toronto Raptors secured their spot in the NBA play-in tournament with a convincing 128-108 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. Pascal Siakam led the way with 36 points, while Fred VanVleet contributed 20 points and a career-high 20 assists. O.G. Anunoby added 23 points to help the Raptors improve to 39-39 on the season.

With their playoff fate now secured, the Raptors are turning their attention to seeding with four games remaining in the regular season. They entered Sunday tied with the Atlanta Hawks for eighth place in the Eastern Conference, but are hoping to move up in the standings to improve their chances of advancing out of the play-in tournament.

The play-in tournament, introduced last season as part of the NBA's efforts to expand the postseason, includes the teams that finish in seventh through tenth place in each conference. The seventh and eighth place teams will face off, with the winner earning the seventh seed and a spot in the playoffs. The ninth and tenth place teams will also face off, with the winner advancing to face the loser of the seventh and eighth place game for the final playoff spot in the conference. For the Raptors, finishing in the eighth seed would mean they only need to win one game to advance to the playoffs, while finishing in the ninth seed would require them to win two games. As VanVleet noted after Sunday's win, the team is focused on getting to the eighth seed and playing their best basketball down the stretch.

VanVleet was a key factor in the Raptors' victory over the Hornets, setting a franchise record for points and assists in a single game. His ability to distribute the ball and find his teammates for open shots helped keep the Raptors' offense firing on all cylinders. Siakam also continued his strong play of late, scoring 36 points on efficient shooting to lead the team.

While the Raptors' win over the undermanned Hornets was a positive step forward, they still have work to do in their remaining games to secure their desired playoff seeding. They will face tough opponents in the Dallas Mavericks, Chicago Bulls, and Indiana Pacers before wrapping up the regular season against the struggling Washington Wizards. If the Raptors can continue to play at the level they showed on Sunday, they have a good chance of finishing in the eighth seed and earning a spot in the playoffs. But with the play-in tournament offering no guarantees, they will need to remain focused and determined in their pursuit of a postseason berth.

In conclusion, the Toronto Raptors have secured a spot in the NBA play-in tournament with a 128-108 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Pascal Siakam scored 36 points, while Fred VanVleet had a career-high 20 assists along with 20 points. The Raptors are now focused on improving their seeding with four games remaining, aiming to finish eighth or higher in the Eastern Conference to increase their chances of advancing out of the play-in tournament. VanVleet emphasized the team's win-every-game mentality, as they strive to play their best basketball at this crucial time of the year.