The Raptors play the front half of a weekend road back-to-back on Saturday afternoon as they visit the Detroit Pistons. Toronto opened as 7-point favourites on the NBA odds.

Raptors vs. Pistons NBA Betting Odds

This is the lone matinee on the NBA slate Saturday, and it’s the third of four regular-season meetings between the teams. Detroit visits Toronto on March 24 to close it out.

The Dinos lead the season series 2-0 but both were close – they just played Feb. 12 at Scotiabank Arena and Toronto escaped with a 119-118 victory as Detroit’s Jaden Ivey missed a three-pointer at the buzzer. Fred VanVleet had 35 points, and that’s his only game vs. the Pistons this season. Pascal Siakam had 28, and that was also his lone game in the series so far.

Bojan Bogdanovic leads the Pistons in averaging 25.5 points in the two games. Still a huge shock he wasn’t dealt ahead of the trade deadline as the 33-year-old doesn’t fit long term with this young team and will hit free agency this summer.

Detroit has covered the spread in eight straight meetings.

Toronto Raptors

Will Fred VanVleet play Saturday? He was a late scratch ahead of Thursday’s 115-110 home victory over New Orleans, the Dinos’ third straight win (they haven’t won four straight this season), for personal reasons and also excused from practice Friday. Gary Trent Jr. started for him vs. the Pels and had 18 points. Pascal Siakam added 26, and Jakob Poeltl had 21 points and a career-high 18 rebounds. Seven of Poeltl’s 18 rebounds were offensive. Toronto outscored New Orleans 22-13 in second-chance points and 62-42 in the paint.

The trade with San Antonio to bring Poeltl back is looking better and better by the day. OG Anunoby played his first game since Jan. 27 and had 12 points and two steals in 32 minutes. Siakam has now scored at least 25 points in five consecutive games, averaging 30.4 points in that stretch. The Raptors are 0-4 ATS in their past four on the road vs. teams with a losing home record.

Detroit Pistons

Detroit is on a three-game losing streak – starting with that last Toronto meeting – following a 108-106 loss in Orlando on Thursday. The Magic won on a tip-in at the buzzer. Good-looking rookie guard Jaden Ivey led Detroit with 25 points and hit a three-pointer with nine seconds left to tie it. The Pistons were a stellar 17-for-34 from deep but also turned it over 21 times.

The team’s big trade ahead of the deadline was landing centre and former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman from the Warriors, and he looks a bit reborn with consistent playing time as Wiseman had eight points and 10 rebounds off the bench in 24 minutes Thursday. Detroit is still coached by former Raptors coach Dwane Casey, but that likely ends this offseason. The Pistons are 4-0 ATS in their past four at home vs. teams with a losing record.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Raptors vs. Pistons?

• Regular Season

Raptors Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 24.23
Assists	Fred VanVleet 7.17
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 9.12
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.2
Steals	O.G. Anunoby 1.91
Blocks	Jakob Poeltl 1.31

DET

Points	Bojan Bogdanovic 21.58
Assists	Killian Hayes 6.18
Rebounds	Jalen Duren 8.88
FG%	Braxton Key 100
Steals	Killian Hayes 1.37
Blocks	Stanley Umude 1

• Regular Season

Pistons Team Leaders

TOR

Points	Pascal Siakam 24.23
Assists	Fred VanVleet 7.17
Rebounds	Jakob Poeltl 9.12
FG%	Jakob Poeltl 65.2
Steals	O.G. Anunoby 1.91
Blocks	Jakob Poeltl 1.31

DET

Points	Bojan Bogdanovic 21.58
Assists	Killian Hayes 6.18
Rebounds	Jalen Duren 8.88
FG%	Braxton Key 100
Steals	Killian Hayes 1.37
Blocks	Stanley Umude 1

Injuries

Toronto

O.G. Anunoby (SF)

Prob Wed Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Wed Thumb - 08 / 04 / 23

Precious Achiuwa (PF)

Prob Tues Illness - 04 / 04 / 23

O.G. Anunoby (SF)

Prob Tues Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23

Will Barton (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 26 / 03 / 23

Precious Achiuwa (PF)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23

Gary Trent Jr. (SG)

Prob Wed Back - 22 / 03 / 23

Joe Wieskamp (SG)

Out indefinitely Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23

Christian Koloko (C)

Ques Sat Nose - 16 / 03 / 23

Dalano Banton (SF)

Prob Sun Thumb - 13 / 03 / 23

Detroit

James Wiseman (C)

Ques Sun Face - 07 / 04 / 23

Isaiah Livers (PF)

Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 04 / 23

Eugene Omoruyi (SF)

Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 04 / 23

Marvin Bagley III (PF)

Prob Fri Concussion - 02 / 04 / 23

Killian Hayes (PG)

Prob Fri Leg - 30 / 03 / 23

Cory Joseph (PG)

Prob Mon Illness - 24 / 03 / 23

Rodney McGruder (SG)

Out indefinitely Foot - 23 / 03 / 23

R.J. Hampton (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 19 / 03 / 23

Cory Joseph (PG)

Prob Tues Illness - 14 / 03 / 23

Isaiah Livers (PF)

Prob Fri Hip - 14 / 03 / 23

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
O.G. Anunoby (SF)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 08 / 04 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Anunoby is dealing with right ankle soreness, but he is expected to be available against the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament.
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Wed	Thumb - 08 / 04 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
VanVleet is nursing left thumb soreness, but it is anticipated that he will face the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Play-in tournament.
Precious Achiuwa (PF)	Prob Tues	Illness - 04 / 04 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Achiuwa has an illness, but it is projected that he will take on the Hornets on Tuesday.
O.G. Anunoby (SF)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 03 / 04 / 23	3-2	3-2	+ -
Anunoby exited the previous contest with a mild ankle sprain, but it will not affect his status for Tuesday's contest versus the Hornets.
Will Barton (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 26 / 03 / 23	5-3	4-5	+ -
Barton has been absent from the last three games with a left ankle sprain, but he is expected to return against the Hornets in Tuesday's clash.
Precious Achiuwa (PF)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Achiuwa has sat out the last two contests with right hamstring tightness, but it is likely that he will participate in Sunday's tilt versus the Wizards.
Gary Trent Jr. (SG)	Prob Wed	Back - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Trent Jr. has missed the last two games due to back spasms, but it is expected that he will suit up Wednesday against the Celtics.
Joe Wieskamp (SG)	Out indefinitely	Hamstring - 22 / 03 / 23	6-4	5-6	+ -
Wieskamp is out of the lineup with a right hamstring strain, and he will miss an undetermined amount of time.
Christian Koloko (C)	Ques Sat	Nose - 16 / 03 / 23	9-4	8-6	+ -
Koloko exited the previous contest with a fractured nose, leaving his status for Saturday's tilt with the Timberwolves cloudy.
Dalano Banton (SF)	Prob Sun	Thumb - 13 / 03 / 23	9-5	9-6	+ -
Banton has been sidelined due to a left thumb sprain, but it is predicted that he will return to face the Hornets in Sunday's tilt.

Detroit

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
James Wiseman (C)	Ques Sun	Face - 07 / 04 / 23	1-1	2-0	+ -
Wiseman exited the last game with a facial laceration, and it is unknown if he will be available for Sunday's matchup with the Bulls.
Isaiah Livers (PF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 05 / 04 / 23	2-1	3-0	+ -
Livers has missed the last two games with a right ankle sprain, and he will not partake in Sunday's clash versus the Bulls.
Eugene Omoruyi (SF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 05 / 04 / 23	2-1	3-0	+ -
Omoruyi was held out of the last contest with a left ankle sprain, and he will not take on the Bulls on Sunday.
Marvin Bagley III (PF)	Prob Fri	Concussion - 02 / 04 / 23	2-2	5-0	+ -
Bagley has sat out the last two games while going through concussion protocol, but it is likely that he will lace up against the Pacers on Friday.
Killian Hayes (PG)	Prob Fri	Leg - 30 / 03 / 23	3-2	5-1	+ -
Hayes was forced from the last contest with a left leg injury, but it is projected that he will dress for Friday's clash versus the Rockets.
Cory Joseph (PG)	Prob Mon	Illness - 24 / 03 / 23	4-4	6-3	+ -
Joseph sat out the previous tilt due to illness, but it is projected that he will lace up against the Bucks on Monday.
Rodney McGruder (SG)	Out indefinitely	Foot - 23 / 03 / 23	4-4	6-3	+ -
McGruder suffered a right foot sprain, and a timetable for recovery has yet to be established.
R.J. Hampton (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 19 / 03 / 23	4-6	6-5	+ -
Hampton sat out the last contest due to lower-back spasms, but it is expected that he will suit up for Tuesday's clash with the Hawks.
Cory Joseph (PG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 14 / 03 / 23	5-7	6-7	+ -
Joseph is ailing from an illness, but it is projected that he will take on the Wizards on Tuesday.
Isaiah Livers (PF)	Prob Fri	Hip - 14 / 03 / 23	5-7	6-7	+ -
Livers has been held out of the previous four games with right hip soreness, but it is forecasted that he will play against the Raptors on Friday.