The Raptors will try to snap their two-game losing streak tonight at home against the Pistons at 7:30 p.m. ET. Detroit has been one of the worst teams in the NBA this season with a 16-57 record and is entering tonight's matchup on a four-game losing skid. The Raptors are looking to sweep the four-game season series from the Pistons, as these are must-win games for Toronto to stay in the play-in tournament.
In their last matchup on Feb. 25, the Raptors defeated the Pistons 95-91 at Little Caesars Arena. Pascal Siakam led both teams with a game-high 29 points and posted eight rebounds and five assists. As for Detroit, Marvin Bagley III was the spark plug for their offense, posting 21 points and 18 rebounds off the bench.
As we look forward to tonight's game, the Raptors (35-38) will try to start another home winning streak after their seven-game streak was snapped on Wednesday night in a four-point loss to the Pacers. Toronto is still a full game behind the Hawks for the eighth spot and a half-game in front of the Bulls, who currently occupy the 10th spot.
Can the Pistons beat the Raptors for the first time this season, or will Toronto handle its business against a team looking forward to next season? Below, we'll break down this Eastern Conference matchup while giving our prediction and best bets for basketball fans looking to win some cash.
Pistons vs. Raptors odds, picks, predictions
- Spread: Pistons +14.5 (-110); Raptors -14.5 (-110)
- Over/Under: 223.5
- Moneyline: Pacers +750; Raptors -1200
The Raptors let us down on Wednesday night after we recommended taking them on the spread (-9.5) against the Pacers. Toronto struggled defensively, allowing Indiana to shoot 55.8 percent from the field and 52.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Raptors got good performances from Jakob Poeltl, Fred VanVleet, and Siakam (82 combined points), but it wasn't enough, as their bench was outscored 40-21.
Heading into tonight's game against Detroit, Scottie Barnes, Precious Achiuwa, and Gary Trent Jr. are all listed as "questionable." If none of those guys aren't upgraded closer to game time, it might not be the best move to take the Raptors on the spread. This season, Toronto is 0-3 against the spread vs. Detroit and 2-2 ATS when it's a double-digit favorite.
Meanwhile, Detroit has lost four-straight games heading into tonight's matchup by an average of 18.3 points per game. It hasn't been a great season for the Pistons, as second-year point guard Cade Cunningham has missed most of the year with a left tibia injury. However, it has allowed rookie Jaden Ivey to be a focal point in the offense. The Pistons have a ton of notable players on the injury report for tonight's game, which is good news for bettors thinking about backing Toronto. However, Detroit is 8-7-1 ATS when the spread was +11 to +14 this season.
Conventional wisdom says to take the Raptors to cover tonight, but we will take the OVER 223.5 on the total. The Raptors are averaging 120 points per game in their past five games, while the Pistons allow 114.8 points per game. Moreover, Toronto has a good ORtg this season (115.2), and the Pistons are not great on defense with a 118.6 DRtg. Their last matchup in Detroit was low scoring, but the two previous matchups saw 226 and 237 total points scored, respectively. Take the OVER so you don't have to worry about the Raptors covering a big number.
Best Bet: OVER 223.5 (-115)
Best player prop bet for Pistons vs. Raptors: Jaden Ivey OVER 8.5 assists and rebounds (-125)
We will take a chance on Ivey's assists + rebounds prop since we like his rebounds (O/U 3.5) and assists (O/U 5.5). The former Purdue standout is one of Detroit's best players and will be tasked to do a lot tonight and for the rest of the regular season. In his past 10 games, the rookie point guard is averaging 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game. Ivey has gone OVER 8.5 assists + rebounds six times in that span. One of those games was against the Raptors on Feb. 25, where he recorded 10 assists and two rebounds in 31 minutes. Finally, in the first three games against Toronto this season, Ivey is averaging 8.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game.
