A five-game homestand has given the Toronto Raptors a chance to get back to the .500 mark for the first time in more than two months. A matchup against the struggling Boston Celtics on Friday may provide Toronto with a golden opportunity to accomplish the feat.

The Raptors (21-22) were 7-14 on Dec. 11, but have since bounced back, winning four of their last five games and eight of 11 since Jan. 5. The hot stretch has moved Toronto within a game of reaching .500 for the first time since Nov. 8, when the team was 2-2.

The Raptors overcame a 15-point deficit in Wednesday's 90-88 victory over the New Orleans Hornets. Toronto received a solid performance by Chris Bosh, who scored a game-high 35 points, but didn't take the lead until Jose Calderon's layup with 28 seconds remaining.

"We didn't feel comfortable on the court tonight," said Calderon, who finished with 14 points. "We didn't play a good basketball game, but if we fight for 48 minutes, we can win. That is the more important thing. Sometimes you don't have to play good to win games."

The win was even more impressive with the Raptors playing without T.J. Ford - their second-leading scorer - and top draft pick Andrea Bargnani. Both are considered day-to-day, Ford because of a sprained ankle and Bargnani with flu-like symptoms.

"Last year we probably get down by 20 and put our heads down and that's a wrap," Bosh said. "That's the thing I like about this team. We keep our eyes on the prize."

Toronto has won both matchups against Boston (12-29) this season, including a 95-86 victory last Friday, but the Raptors had dropped nine of the previous 11 meetings in the series.

The slumping Celtics have dropped nine straight games overall, their longest skid since losing 10 in a row from March 20-April 7, 2000.

Boston had a six-point lead entering the fourth quarter Wednesday, but allowed the first 10 points of the final period en route to a 82-76 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

"To let this slip away really hurts," Boston forward Ryan Gomes said. "When you are up 15 points at halftime, you need to win."

The Celtics, who shot just 31.6 percent from the field, lost power forward Al Jefferson in the fourth quarter because of an ankle injury, further depleting a Boston roster already without Paul Pierce, Wally Szczerbiak and Tony Allen.

"We missed Al's inside presence late in the game," center Kendrick Perkins said. "It's tough right now... We are struggling and have to deal with it."

Jefferson told the team's official Web site the injury is just a "tweak" and he expects to play on Friday.

"It was a little sore last night and it's a little sore right now, but it's pain that I've played through before," he said. "I've iced it and I've just got to get it ready for tomorrow."

Jefferson is averaging 14.1 points per game - the highest average among healthy Celtics players.