The Toronto Raptors have been rolling with wins in nine of their last 10 games. Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Pistons might look like a game the Raptors should expect to win but they should be careful.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Toronto will enter Sunday night with a 19-11 record on the road this season. The Raptors lost the first meeting between these teams 106-104 on their home floor back in November. While a lot has changed since then, Toronto is just 1-4 against the spread in its last five games against Eastern Conference opponents and just 1-6 against the spread in their last seven games overall. Toronto will enter Sunday with a 1-4 ATS record in its last five opponents with losing records this season.

Detroit is 4-0 against the spread in its last four home games and 6-2 ATS in their last seven outings versus Eastern Conference opponents. Despite their strong play of late, Detroit is still just 2-11 ATS in its last 13 Sunday games overall. The Pistons are also 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games versus teams with winning percentages above .600 this season.

Toronto Raptors

If the Raptors are serious about catching Milwaukee for the No. 1 seed, they will need to finish strong and make sure they blow any more games against beatable opponents. That refers to Toronto shockingly losing at home to Orlando last Sunday. The Raptors followed that up with back-to-back wins over the Boston Celtics and Portland Trail Blazers in which they outscored those opponents by an average of 118.5-106.

When Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry both start for the Raptors, they are definitely tough to beat. The Raptors could use a little bit more from Marc Gasol, who is still trying to find his rhythm. Gasol is coming off his best game with the Raptors, scoring 19 points while collecting eight rebounds and dishing six assists. However, he has scored seven points or less in four of his seven starts with the Raptors. He’s been inconsistent. He’ll be crucial to the team’s success on Sunday. Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond combined for 24 rebounds in the first meeting.

Detroit Pistons

The Raptors were a much different team when Detroit beat them the first time around but one might argue that so were the Pistons. Detroit has really started to click since the trade deadline when they picked up Wayne Ellington, who has been a really good fit with the team. Ellington has scored in double-digits in three straight games. He’s boosted the team’s three-point shooting significantly. They are ranked 26^th in three-point field goal percentage on the season (34.3%) but are actually second in the NBA over the last 10 games (39.9%). They drilled 14 threes through three quarters against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday night. The Raptors three-point defence is ranked 20^th over the last 10 games, so this could be an area that the Pistons expose.

As a result, it’s opened up the floor for others. Reggie Jackson has averaged a team-high 20.3 points per game over the last two weeks. Kennard and Ish Smith have combined to average 23.6 points per game over that same span.

The Pistons have been strong on their home floor this season, winning five of their last six. They’re in a back-to-back set but otherwise, this looks like a spot where they could pull out the win.

Injuries

Toronto

Fred VanVleet (PG)

Prob Mon Face - 08 / 06 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Thurs Personal - 15 / 05 / 19

Pascal Siakam (PF)

Prob Sun Calf - 04 / 05 / 19

Jeremy Lin (PG)

Prob Tues Back - 02 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Prob Wed Back - 01 / 05 / 19

Chris Boucher (PF)

Ques Mon Back - 18 / 04 / 19

Serge Ibaka (C)

Out Tues Rest - 09 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19

Patrick McCaw (SG)

Prob Fri Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19

Detroit

Luke Kennard (SG)

Prob Fri Foot - 04 / 04 / 19

Svi Mykhailiuk (SG)

Out indefinitely Finger - 03 / 04 / 19

Langston Galloway (SG)

Ques Mon Illness - 01 / 04 / 19

Luke Kennard (SG)

Prob Wed Foot - 01 / 04 / 19

Wayne Ellington (SG)

Prob Tues Illness - 26 / 03 / 19

Luke Kennard (SG)

Prob Sun Knee - 24 / 03 / 19

Thon Maker (PF)

Prob Sun Shoulder - 24 / 03 / 19

Reggie Jackson (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 16 / 03 / 19

Bruce Brown (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 14 / 03 / 19

Reggie Jackson (PG)

Prob Fri Ankle - 13 / 03 / 19

Injuries

Toronto

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Fred VanVleet (PG)	Prob Mon	Face - 08 / 06 / 19	2-0	1-2	+ -
VanVleet sustained a facial laceration and chipped tooth in the previous game but is expected to suit up for Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Thurs	Personal - 15 / 05 / 19	7-4	6-6	+ -
McCaw has been tending to a personal matter, but he is likely to return for Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the Warriors.
Pascal Siakam (PF)	Prob Sun	Calf - 04 / 05 / 19	9-6	8-8	+ -
Siakam is expected to play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers despite a right calf contusion.
Jeremy Lin (PG)	Prob Tues	Back - 02 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Lin is battling back spasms but is expected to suit up against the 76ers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference second round.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Prob Wed	Back - 01 / 05 / 19	9-7	8-9	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms but it is likely he will play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Bucks.
Chris Boucher (PF)	Ques Mon	Back - 18 / 04 / 19	13-8	9-13	+ -
Boucher is dealing with back spasms and it is unclear if he will be available for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round against the 76ers.
Serge Ibaka (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 09 / 04 / 19	15-9	10-15	+ -
Ibaka will not suit up against the Timberwolves on Tuesday as he is to be rested.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 07 / 04 / 19	15-10	10-15-1	+ -
Green tweaked his ankle in the last game but it is anticipated that he will play against the Timberwolves on Tuesday.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Thumb - 01 / 04 / 19	18-10	12-16-1	+ -
Green jammed his left thumb during the last game but it is unlikely to deter him from being available against the Nets on Wednesday.
Patrick McCaw (SG)	Prob Fri	Thumb - 30 / 03 / 19	19-10	12-17-1	+ -
McCaw has been debilitated with a sprained right thumb but will likely return to action against the Magic in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first round.

Detroit

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Luke Kennard (SG)	Prob Fri	Foot - 04 / 04 / 19	1-7	3-5	+ -
Kennard is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Friday despite soreness in his right foot.
Svi Mykhailiuk (SG)	Out indefinitely	Finger - 03 / 04 / 19	1-8	4-5	+ -
Mykhailiuk will miss an undetermined length of time due to a fractured left index finger.
Langston Galloway (SG)	Ques Mon	Illness - 01 / 04 / 19	2-8	4-6	+ -
Galloway is under the weather and his status Monday against the Pacers is uncertain.
Luke Kennard (SG)	Prob Wed	Foot - 01 / 04 / 19	2-8	4-6	+ -
Kennard sat out the last game due to soreness in his right foot but is expected to play against the Pacers on Wednesday.
Wayne Ellington (SG)	Prob Tues	Illness - 26 / 03 / 19	5-8	6-7	+ -
Ellington is ailing from an illness but is expected to play Tuesday against the Nuggets.
Luke Kennard (SG)	Prob Sun	Knee - 24 / 03 / 19	6-8	7-8	+ -
Kennard is expected to play against the Warriors on Sunday despite left knee soreness.
Thon Maker (PF)	Prob Sun	Shoulder - 24 / 03 / 19	6-8	7-8	+ -
Maker is dealing with right shoulder soreness but is likely to be available Sunday against the Warriors.
Reggie Jackson (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 16 / 03 / 19	8-9	9-9	+ -
Jackson is dealing with a sore ankle but will likely play Sunday against the Raptors.
Bruce Brown (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 14 / 03 / 19	8-10	9-10	+ -
Brown is likely to be in Friday's lineup versus the Lakers despite right ankle discomfort.
Reggie Jackson (PG)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 13 / 03 / 19	8-11	9-11	+ -
Jackson left the previous game due to right ankle discomfort but is expected to play against the Lakers on Friday.

Raptors vs. Pistons Prediction