Raptors vs. Pistons Pick
Will the Detroit Pistons pick up a needed win today when they host the Toronto Raptors at 7:30PM ET?
According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Pistons are the slim favorite at home, as they are getting odds of -1 point against Toronto. The over/under total for the game is listed at 198 points. Toronto has won and covered the spread in two of the three meetings this season, including one win and cover in Detroit.
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The Pistons are in a must-win spot, as they are 35-42 on the season and 2.5 games out of the eighth spot in the East with five games remaining. Detroit has lost six of its last seven games and is just 2-5 against the spread in those seven games. They are just 36-41 ATS on the season. Detroit is averaging 101 points on offense this season while allowing 102.3 on defense. Over their last five games, the Pistons put up just 94.6 points on offense while allowing 103.6 on defense. Tobias Harris has been the leading the team with 16.2 points per game while Andre Drummond adds 14 points and 13.9 rebounds per contest.
The Raptors are 47-31 on the season and currently tied for the third position in the East. They have won eight of their last 10 games coming into today, but just 1-3 against the spread in their last four. Toronto is now 42-35-1 against the spread on the season. The Raptors are averaging 107.1 points per game on offense this season while allowing 103.1 on defense. When on the road, Toronto averages and allows 102.7 points per contest. DeMar DeRozan is leading the team with 27.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while Serge Ibaka is adding 14.9 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest.
The Pistons are favored, but I am not sure why. This team has been a disaster for nearly a month and their two wins in their last 10 games came against the Nets and the Suns. Detroit doesn’t have any fire left in it and the Raptors need this win to stay in the third spot in the East. The Raptors are the better team and should have no trouble proving it.
NBA DAILY PREDICTION: TORONTO RAPTORS +1