Two teams moving in distinctly different directions will match up on Wednesday as the Toronto Raptors host the Orlando Magic at the Air Canada Centre.

Toronto is currently playing its best basketball in five years and is the hottest team in the NBA's Eastern Conference. The team's unselfish brand of basketball has seen it win three straight contests and eight of its last 10.

Rookie Andrea Bargnani will look to continue his improved play since his breakout game against Orlando on Dec. 13.
(Frank Gunn/ Canadian Press)

As a result, the Raptors (25-23) have moved to two games over .500 and opened up a 3.5 game lead atop the Atlantic Division in the process.

Toronto's latest win was a 122-110 triumph over the Los Angeles Clippers at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday. The win extended the Raptors' home-winning streak to five games — their longest since an eight-game streak at the end of the 2001-02 season.

Paced by the consistent play of all-star Chris Bosh (27 points, seven rebounds and four assists) and continued strong play from the point guard position, Toronto would build a big halftime lead on 70 per cent shooting and never look back.

The Magic (25-24), on the other hand, will be content just to keep their record above .500 with a win on Wednesday.

After a surprisingly potent start to their season that saw them post a November record of 12-4, the Magic have since come crashing down to earth, winning only 13 of 33 games since that point.

Currently, Orlando owns the seventh-best winning percentage in the Eastern Conference.

Orlando's most recent setback occurred on Tuesday — dropping a 116-111 decision to the Bucks at Milwaukee. Despite shooting 53 per cent from the floor and a 21-point, 11-rebound effort from franchise player Dwight Howard, the Magic's porous defence allowed four Milwaukee players to score at least 20 points in the loss.

The Magic and Raptors matched up most recently in a surprising 91-84 Toronto win at TD Waterhouse Centre on Dec. 13. Toronto won despite playing without the services of all-star power forward Chris Bosh, who was out with a bruised left knee.

That game proved to be a breakthrough moment for first overall pick Andrea Bargnani, who showed flashes of dominance throughout the game — hitting five of eight three-point shots on his way to a career-high 23 points in the win.

To add injury to insult, the Magic will be without the services of Grant Hill for Wednesday's matchup. The talented but injury-prone guard/forward will be out for another week with a sprained right knee.

Toronto has won five of the last seven matchups against Orlando, including four straight at home.