Right here, right now.

In Cleveland, of all places.

There certainly are more exotic locales in which the Raptors could begin the stretch run of the 2001-02 NBA season. But the fact remains, the all-star break is over and every team in the league is running out of time and excuses.

The Raptors, who are eight games above .500 at 29-21 and in third place in the Eastern Conference, have only 32 games remaining in the regular season.

At various junctures they have been criticized for playing as if they were waiting for something. Now there's little time for dreaming about what's on the horizon.

It is true the Raptors are banged up. They'll be missing star player Vince Carter, among others, when they visit the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at the Gund Arena (7 p.m., Raptors-NBA TV, The Fan 590).

The good news for the Raptors is that Morris Peterson will be activated today. Peterson, who has been out since Jan. 2 with a fractured finger, could be replaced on the injured list by Carter.