Raptors Look for Rebound Against League’s Worst
After losing back-to-back games, the Toronto Raptors (35-38) are in danger of falling out of the NBA Play-In Tournament. However, Friday night is the perfect opportunity for a “get right” game as the Detroit Pistons (16-57) pay a visit.
The Pistons hold the association’s worst record and are 1-15 straight up and 6-10 against the spread (ATS) in the last 16 games. After going 4-1 ATS over the last five, basketball odds have the Raptors as heavy favorites. Will Detroit pull off the upset, or will Toronto get back on the right track?
Injuries Destroy Detroit’s Season
Since Cade Cunningham’s season ended with a calf injury, the Pistons’ campaign went down the drain, and injuries have continued to mount over the last month.
Forward Bojan Bogdanovic (21.6 points) has been out since March 1 with an Achilles injury and will be absent on Friday. Center Isaiah Stewart (11.3 points and 8.1 rebounds) has not played since Feb. 25. Stewart’s shoulder injury will keep him out against the Raptors. Rookie center Jalen Duren (8.7 points and 8.7 rebounds) is also questionable with a head injury. Detroit could have major rebounding problems against the Raptors, who rank second in offensive rebounds per game. The Pistons are a poor NBA pick right now, going 0-4 ATS in the last four games.
The Pistons are in the position for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. They can select French phenom Victor Wembanyama, who NBA lines have at -8000 to be the first player off of the board. Detroit will likely enter tank mode in the regular season’s final weeks.
Raptors Draw Favorable Matchup
Toronto cannot afford a loss on Friday night. It sits in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings with the Chicago Bulls only half a game back. Plus, the Indiana Pacers are two games behind the Raptors. Losing to the Pistons would be a devastating blow to Toronto’s NBA playoff odds.
The Raptors also have a long list of injuries, with forward Precious Achiuwa, forward Scottie Barnes, and guard Gary Trent Jr. questionable for Friday. Toronto will likely lean on its leading scorers, forward Pascal Siakam (24.2 points) and guard Fred VanVleet (19.7 points).
The offense averaged 118.7 points in the last six games, compared to its season average of 112.9 points. The Pistons rank 28th in defensive efficiency and have allowed at least 117 points in three of the last four. Siakam has scored 25 or more points in three of the last four. With injuries, Detroit could lack the size to defend the All-Star forward. Look for Spicy P to cook the Pistons. A prop on Siakam’s scoring total could be one of the best NBA bets tonight.
Pascal Siakam was cookin’ yesterday 🌶️
31 PTS
10 REB
7 AST
55.5 FPTS#WeTheNorth pic.twitter.com/BHUMgNrxfj— NBA Fantasy (@NBAFantasy) March 23, 2023
Pistons vs Raptors Game Injuries
Pistons vs Raptors Head-to-Head
The Pistons are 6-4 and 9-1 ATS in the last 10 meetings. However, the Raptors have won three consecutive games.
Pistons vs Raptors Game Information
- Game: Pistons (16-57) vs Raptors (35-38)
- Location: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON
- Day/Time: Friday, March 24, 7:30 p.m. ET
- Pistons vs RaptorsLive stream: NBA Game Pass
Pistons vs Raptors Betting Lines
Pistons vs Raptors Picks and Prediction
Detroit ranks 27th in defensive rebounding percentage, and Toronto is one of the league’s top offensive rebounding teams. Keep an eye on NBA news. If Duren does not play, the Pistons will be without their top two rebounders. Siakam has also scored at least 28 points in the last three meetings. Detroit is 0-4 ATS in its last four away games. Take the Raptors to cover the point spread.
Toronto is listed at -1200 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Raptors, you have a chance to win $8. Detroit is +750, offering a chance to win $750 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Toronto a 92.31% chance to win, with the Pistons at 11.76%.
Pistons vs Raptors Trends
Pistons vs Raptors Edge
Pistons vs Raptors Results
Pistons vs Raptors Game Summary
Pistons vs Raptors Previous Game (Nov 14, 2022)
Dwane Casey brings his Detroit Pistons back to Toronto where he faces his old team yet again. Lately, Casey has had the upper hand against Toronto: Detroit has covered seven straight against the Raptors and is 6-1 straight-up. And yet, the NBA betting odds persist in favoring Toronto. The Raptors are nine-point favorites, the biggest they’ve been since December 7.
We can’t trust Toronto as sizable favorites even if it is 5-4 ATS when favored by 7½ points or more. Detroit beats just 50 percent of its spreads as a road underdog (13-13-2). But as recent history dictates, the Pistons play the Raptors well. Take them in the sportsbook or pass.
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