TORONTO — The clinching number for the Toronto Raptors is one.

They need to win one of their remaining four games to clinch first place in the Eastern Conference. In the unlikely event of that not happening Trey Burton Jerseyl , one loss by the second-place Boston Celtics, who also have four games left, would also wrap up the East.

Toronto could get the job done by defeating the Indiana Pacers on Friday night at the Air Canada Centre.

The Raptors (56-22) defeated the undermanned Celtics 96-78 on Wednesday night at the ACC to move three games ahead of Boston in the conference.

Meanwhile, the Pacers (47-32) defeated the Golden State Warriors 126-106 at home Thursday night, led by 28 points from Bojan Bogdanovic. They have won six of seven — including two wins over the Warriors without Steph Curry — and are fifth in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the Cleveland Cavaliers and 1 1/2 games behind the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I thought it was a big test tonight,” Indiana coach Nate McMillan said. “I really was looking forward to playing them with their roster tonight, just to see where we were. That’s a really good team. I thought our guys responded well to the challenge.”

Despite being on the verge of clinching home-court advantage in the playoffs, Raptors coach Dwane Casey was trying to keep it in perspective. The victory over Boston followed a loss in Cleveland on Tuesday night.

“We’re not excited, we know we got some other games to go, some other things to get better at; we’re looking at big picture,” Casey said after the game Wednesday. “One game, we still have some things to get better at. I liked our defense Kawann Short Jersey , I thought our defensive focus was there, our attention to detail, guys were where they were supposed to be, a few hiccups but a big improvement over (Tuesday) night.

“Again, it’s about competition, it’s about competing at a high level. With a big picture in mind, not just trying to win that one game we’re trying to do something special.”

Toronto guard DeMar DeRozan, who scored 16 points Wednesday, said the games leading into the playoffs are important.

“What do we have, four games left? Every single one is extremely important because once next weekend starts you know, it’s literally win or go home,” DeRozan said. “It’s no ‘my bads’ or I get the next one, so these four games are critical and us playing extremely hard and having a rhythm and understanding Quintin Demps Jersey , our confidence has to be at an all-time high going into next week.”

With the victory over the Celtics, the Raptors matched their franchise best for overall wins in a season (56) and wins at home (32).

Toronto holds a 2-1 advantage over the Pacers this season, including a 106-99 victory at Indianapolis on March 15 in the most recent meeting.

DeRozan scored 16 of his 24 points in the second half against Indiana in that game.

The Pacers hold a head-to-head tiebreaker over the 76ers (2-1 this year) and Cavaliers (3-1). Both teams have relatively easy schedules remaining, however, so that might not become a factor. The Cavaliers and 76ers do play each other before the season ends.

Indiana has endured a difficult schedule that included visits to Golden State, Sacramento, Los Angeles (against the Clippers) and Denver.

The Pacers will be facing the Raptors on the second half of back-to-back games.

“It’s going to get us bull-tough and battle tested,” Indiana forward Thaddeus Young said. “It’s definitely prepping us for the task at hand, which is going to the playoffs. We’ve been doing a good job of handing it, going out there and staying focused and locked in. This road trip has been tough. … I don’t know who made the schedule, but this is crazy.”

The Pacers have lost eight games in a row at Toronto.

Dereck Rodriguez had no problems sliding back into San Francisco’s starting rotation after a rare appearance out of the bullpen before the All-Star break.

The Giants even hit a couple of home runs Friday night – a rarity these days for manager Bruce Bochy’s ballclub.

Rodriguez pitched three-hit ball into the seventh inning for his fourth consecutive win, sending the Giants to a 5-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

”It was just getting back in the mix, throwing off the mound again Rod Smith Jersey ,” Rodriguez said after his first start since July 6. ”I felt fine. In three weeks I’ve had like two outings. It was good.”

Pablo Sandoval and Ryder Jones homered for the Giants. Andrew McCutchen doubled, drove in a run and made a pair of sliding catches in right field.

Rodriguez (5-1) was masterful during his first career interleague start. Used as a reliever against the Chicago Cubs on July 11 in between starts, the right-hander allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out five, hit two batters with pitches and retired 13 of 14 during one stretch.

Two weeks ago, Rodriguez was fighting for a spot in the Giants’ rotation amid a flurry of injuries to the team’s top three starters and poor outings by others. The son of Hall of Fame catcher Ivan ”Pudge” Rodriguez is likely to stay put now after lowering his ERA to 2.72 – second-lowest among San Francisco’s starters.

”The kid’s just did a great job since he’s been up here,” Bochy said. ”It’s been a pleasure watching how this guy’s handled everything that’s thrown at him.”

Khris Davis doubled and scored for Oakland.

The A’s had won 21 of 27, including six of seven at the Coliseum, before losing in front of their first sellout crowd this season.

The Bay Area rivals are in the midst of playing six consecutive games against each other. Oakland won two of three at San Francisco during the final series before the All-Star break.

”There were times where we had chances to put a little more pressure on them, just didn’t do it tonight,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.

Reyes Moronta retired two batters for the Giants. Mark Melancon and Tony Watson pitched one inning apiece to complete the four-hitter.

Jones, called up from Triple-A Sacramento before the game, hit a go-ahead homer in the fourth. Sandoval went deep in the seventh. Both home runs came off A’s starter Edwin Jackson (1-2).

San Francisco had hit only six home runs since July 1, fewest in the majors.

”I had a feeling (on) a 2-0 count he was going to give up a cutter in Brendan Langley Jersey , so I was sitting cutter in and he threw a slider,” Jones said. ”Last year it took me five or six games to do something. It’s good to get in here and help the team win in some capacity.”

McCutchen doubled and scored on Buster Posey’s single in the fourth and had a sacrifice fly in the eighth. He did his best work in the field, though.

A Gold Glove winner as a center fielder in 2012, McCutchen has been uneven in right field this season but made a pair of sparkling defensive plays to take hits away from Matt Chapman in the fourth and Jonathan Lucroy in the fifth. McCutchen finished with eight putouts.

Jackson allowed three runs in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.

RELIEF COMING?

Multiple reports indicated the A’s could be close to acquiring Mets closer Jeurys Familia. New York manager Mickey Callaway said he was instructed not to use Familia on Friday night at Yankee Stadium because ”there could be a potential trade happening.” An All-Star in 2016, Familia has 123 saves for the Mets.

THIS AND THAT

Stephen Piscotty has a 10-game hitting streak. . The sellout was the largest paid crowd at the Coliseum since Aug. 13, 2005. . McCutchen’s eight putouts were the most by a Giants right fielder since Randy Winn had eight on April 7, 2006.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: 1B Brandon Belt was placed on the paternity list. Jones started at third base while Sandoval replaced Belt at first. … 3B Evan Longoria (broken hand) went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI in a rehab game with Sacramento.

UP NEXT

Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner (3-3, 2.90 ERA) goes for his fifth win in seven career starts against the A’s on Saturday night. RHP Trevor Cahill (1-2, 3.10) pitches for Oakland.

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