Raptors locked into play-in tournament after Nets win over Jazz

For the first time in franchise history, the Toronto Raptors' road to the NBA playoffs will go through the NBA's play-in tournament.

After the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Utah Jazz on Sunday, the best the Raptors can finish is now seventh in the Eastern Conference, locking them into the tournament.

The Raptors still have a lot to play for in their remaining four games, as seeding in the four-team tournament is crucial.

As of Sunday, the Raptors sit tied for eighth in the conference with the Atlanta Hawks, but the Hawks hold the season tiebreaker placing the Raptors ninth. Finishing seventh or eighth would guarantee Toronto two chances to clinch a post-season berth.

Here is a reminder of how the play-in tournament works:

- The seventh and eighth-placed teams play in a one-game showdown with the winner securing the seventh seed in the playoffs.

- The ninth and tenth-placed teams play to earn the right to play the loser of the seventh versus eighth game.

- The loser of the seventh/eighth game gets a second chance against the winner of the ninth/tenth game with the winner securing the conference's eighth and final playoff spot

Therefore, the Raptors will want to fight hard to stay in eighth or climb to seventh as that will guarantee them two chances to secure a post-season berth.

The Raptors locking themselves into the play-in tournament pretty much guarantees they will face off against either the Boston Celtics or league-leading Milwaukee Bucks should they officially make it in.

This version of the tournament has been around for the past two seasons. In those two seasons, the seventh seed is a perfect 4-0 in the first game.

The Raptors have a tough four-game stretch to finish their season, as they start with the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday, then have back-to-back road games against the Boston Celtics and finish the season at home against the Milwaukee Bucks.