Raptors vs. Pistons Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
As has been the case for Raptors games for a couple of weeks, the NBA odds are dependent on three key players’ possible return from COVID protocols.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
This could be what is known as a “trap” game for Toronto as in the players could be looking past the awful Pistons and ahead to Friday’s home matchup in Tampa, Fla., against NBA-best Utah Jazz.
On March 3, Detroit visited Tampa and was a 7.5-point underdog yet won convincingly 129-105 – a game pushed back one night because of COVID issues on the Raptors. Yes, they were without Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Fred VanVleet, not to mention reserves Malachi Flynn and Patrick McCaw, Coach Nick Nurse and much of his staff, but Detroit was missing by far its best player in Jerami Grant and the team’s second-leading scorer in Josh Jackson.
Despite that, the Pistons shots 52.7 per cent from the field and were 20-for-41 from deep. Wayne Ellington led Detroit with 25 points and was 8-for-11 from behind the arc. Dennis Smith Jr. had a triple-double of 10 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Norman Powell led Toronto with 36 points.
The Dinos were 2-0 in Detroit last season and will return there March 29 to close the season series. In the past 10 meetings overall, Toronto is 6-4 straight up and 5-5 ATS.
Toronto Raptors
It’s possible that Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet and OG Anunoby (and Patrick McCaw and Malachi Flynn) will return from COVID protocols here. On Sunday following the Dinos’ fifth straight loss, 118-95 in Chicago, Coach Nick Nurse said: “I would say later in the week we should have them all back.” Obviously, they might not be in great conditioning shape right away. Still, that the Raptors decided to fly back to Tampa after Sunday’s game instead of staying in Chicago for another night before going to Detroit is a good sign for those players returning.
The only player to see action in every game this season is Chris Boucher. He is also the lone player in the league with 60+ three-point field goals and 60+ blocks. The five-game skid is the Raptors’ longest since Jan. 18-25, 2017.
Detroit Pistons
Detroit is in full tank mode and on a four-game skid following a 109-99 home loss to San Antonio on Monday. About the only good player the Pistons have healthy at this point is Jerami Grant. He left Monday’s game after a hard fall, but Coach Dwane Casey said Grant could have returned. He leads the team in scoring by a mile at 23.4 ppg, so monitor his status. Starting shooting guard Wayne Ellington was out with a right groin strain – he’s a lock to be traded by March 25. Hamidou Diallo is dealing with a groin injury and in the health protocols. Dennis Smith Jr. is also in the protocols. The Pistons might be the only team the Raptors would be favoured on the road against right now if all those key Toronto players sit again.
TOR
DET