The 2010-11 season has pretty much been an endless struggle for the Toronto Raptors, so at this stage of the season – as we enter the unofficial second half — it’s really hard to describe any games as big for this lottery-bound club. Still, Tuesday’s game in Charlotte does hold significance for Toronto as it needs a win to avoid the dubious distinction of matching the franchise record of 11 straight road losses.

The Indiana Pacers have a young, improving team that looks poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06, but on Tuesday night they got schooled by one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics are now headed back home, and have a few days off before starting a tough two-game homestand Friday against the Mavericks followed by a Sunday afternoon affair against the Magic.

With Utah struggling, Denver has pulled within a half-game of second place in the Northwest division (and sixth in the West), and the division-leading Thunder has been spinning its wheels lately, opening the door for the Nuggets to make a run. And even though they’re just 6-13 on the road, as far as road trips go, this is about as easy as it gets as after the stop in the U.S. capital, the Nuggets travel to Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia and New Jersey to wrap up the month.

The road woes stretch even further as Cleveland has now dropped 21 straight in hostile territory, matching a team record set in 2003. Ironically, the Cavs’ last road win was in New Jersey on November 9. But lightning wasn’t going to strike twice in the swamp.

Not only does Washington have its first winning streak of the season, but this also marked its first win of the season over a team with a winning record. Yikes. No wonder the Wizards are headed for another lottery pick. Still, they are playing better lately, and have managed to move into a virtual tie with the Raptors for 12th place in the East. Of course, this improved play has been as the result of them playing five of eight games this month at home. There is still that whole 0-19 on the road thing hanging over their heads. Right…that little detail.