Stones After 11 Straight
The Detroit Pistons’ starters are getting some rest during the team’s longest winning streak in two years.
The Pistons go for their 11th straight win on Friday when they host a Toronto Raptors team returning home after an arduous road trip.
Oddsmakers from SBG Global have made Detroit -4 point spread favorites (NBA Odds) for today’s game, the over/under has been set at 187.5 total points (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 88% of bets for this game have been placed on Detroit -4 (View NBA Bet Percentages).
Detroit (25-7) has not lost since an 80-77 defeat in Houston on Dec. 12 and owns the longest current run in the NBA, capped by Wednesday’s 106-93 win in Washington. Portland had won 13 in a row before falling at Utah on Monday.
The Pistons’ run is their longest since winning 11 straight in Jan. 2006.
"Whenever you get in a situation like we’re in now, it’s because you take it one game at a time," said coach Flip Saunders, whose team improved to 17-2 against Eastern Conference foes. "We’ve been here before. We’ve been on some runs, so it’s not like they are uncommon."
Still, the Pistons have made this winning streak look easy, scoring 100.8 points per game and outscoring opponents by an average of 16.8. Richard Hamilton, who scored 20 points against the Wizards, has averaged 19.4 during the winning streak and led the Pistons in scoring in the last six games.
"It’s fun. I’m not actually playing a lot of minutes," said Hamilton, who passed Gene Shue for 10th on the Pistons’ all-time scoring list. "It’s great when you’re winning and the bench gets an opportunity. It makes everyone’s job a lot easier."
Detroit’s reserves outscored Washington’s 33-8, and the Pistons led by double digits throughout the second half. Seven Detroit players scored in double figures.
"Another game where most of our starters could sit and watch most of the fourth quarter and watch our young guys develop," said point guard Chauncey Billups, who scored 16.
The Pistons own the second best record in the East behind only 27-3 Boston, which visits Detroit on Saturday. They have won eight of 10 against the Raptors (17-15), but have dropped four of six in Toronto.
The Raptors are coming off a 3-4 trip against Western Conference foes capped by Monday’s 97-92 win in New Orleans.
"You would have liked for it to be a little better, but it could have been a lot worse," coach Sam Mitchell said. "You’ve got to give a lot of credit to the players. A long trip like this, they just hung in there. They could have easily packed it in."
Chris Bosh scored 29 points and Toronto, which lost three in a row in Portland, Seattle and Phoenix before winning two of its last three, rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit. Bosh averaged 24.0 points and 10.6 rebounds during the road trip for the Raptors, who have won six of their last eight at home.
"We just have more experience. We know we have to come out each and every game tough and with energy. We have to believe in ourselves," Bosh said. "They made a run. Nobody panicked. As soon as the crowd started getting into it, everybody was like, ‘OK, calm down, let’s make plays.’"
Jose Calderon chipped in 17 points against the Hornets and averaged 14.7 during the trip.
By: Marc Young – theSpread.com – Email Us
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