Charlotte @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 11, 2018 ) Toronto 123, Charlotte 103

The Toronto Raptors don't intend to give up the top spot in the Eastern Conference and are ripping through the schedule with wins in 12 of the last 14 games. The Charlotte Hornets, who visit the Raptors on Sunday, are running out of time to get into the playoff race and are not having much success against top-eight opponents on the current road trip.

Toronto failed to post at least 111 points for the first time in eight games on Friday but still pulled out the win with a 102-95 triumph at the Washington Wizards. The Raptors will play their next three against sub-.500 teams and get the first two at home with the Atlanta Hawks coming to town on Tuesday. The Hornets were crawling up the standings with wins in five straight before getting blasted by the Boston Celtics 134-106 on Wednesday and falling off late in a 110-99 setback at Philadelphia on Friday. "It was effort plays (in the last few minutes) as much as anything, which is what they're really good at," Charlotte coach Steve Clifford told reporters after Friday's loss. "They use their size and their athleticism, and they turned up their defense. As much as anything, it was offensive rebounds and we made a couple coverage mistakes. Give them credit."

TV: 6 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Charlotte), TSN (Toronto)

ABOUT THE HORNETS (28-35): Charlotte's shot at the postseason will be led by its backcourt, and Kemba Walker and Nicolas Batum are both playing well of late. Walker is averaging 28.3 points on 58.5 percent shooting over the last three games while Batum is averaging 10 assists and 8.3 rebounds during the same span. Batum suffered through one of his worst games at home against Toronto on Feb. 11, when he managed two points on 0-of-10 shooting in 26 minutes.

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (44-17): Toronto has a pair of All-Stars in its backcourt in Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan but continues to draw raves for the play of its bench. CJ Miles led the reserves on Friday with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting -- 6-of-9 from 3-point range -- in 20 minutes. "We take a lot of pride in coming off that bench and changing games," Miles told reporters of the reserves. "We've talked about it all year. We've been calling ourselves the best bench in the league all year, and I don't think anybody can take that from us."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Raptors SF OG Anunoby (ankle) sat out Friday and is not expected to play on Sunday.

2. Charlotte C Cody Zeller (knee) sat out the last two contests and is questionable for Sunday.

3. Toronto averaged 126 points in winning each of the last three meetings.

PREDICTION: Raptors 121, Hornets 112