Raptors Aiming to End 11-Game Slide Against Chicago Bulls Tuesday

The Toronto Raptors enter Tuesday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls having lost 11 straight in the series. Their last win over the Bulls came Dec. 31, 2013, per ESPN Stats & Info.

ESPN's BPI places the Raptors as 73 percent favorites to end that streak Tuesday despite the absence of Kyle Lowry. The club's star point guard has been sidelined by a wrist injury since late February, but he's recently begun some light dribbling, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN. The reasoning behind Toronto being a heavy favorite likely lies in the direction of the two teams recently and the remaining pieces on each roster.

The Bulls have hit the skids in March, losing seven of their last nine games to stand at 33-37 and one game out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The losing stretch was aided by Dwyane Wade suffering a season-ending fracture in his elbow, but he's only missed the past two games because of it.

Toronto, on the other hand, has won three of its last four games and owns a 41-29 record overall this season. The club has won eight of its 13 contests without Lowry, thanks partly to Cory Joseph providing some additional minutes and impact as the starting point guard. While he's not close to the scoring threat that Lowry is, Joseph has notched 11 points, 5.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game over his 13 contests in the starting five.

With just 12 games remaining in their regular season, the Raptors currently hold the fourth seed in the East and remain just one game behind the Washington Wizards for third. Lowry is expected to miss at least another week or two, so the club will have to get by for much of the remaining regular season without him.

It may be difficult for them to climb the standings in his absence, but the Raptors could be a dangerous team in the postseason with a healthy roster.