Toronto Raptors come to LCA to face Detroit Pistons
By Ku Khahil
The Toronto Raptors visit Detroit again, losing their last match-up in the city 112-107 in overtime. The Detroit Pistons look to extend the series to 3-0.
The Toronto Raptors are coming back to Detroit looking to take some revenge on the Detroit Pistons.
Dwane Casey and the Pistons have a 2-0 lead on the season series over his former team. Both wins have come down to the wire and have been absolute thrillers.
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The first win for Detroit came on a Reggie Bullock game winner, who is now in Los Angeles playing for the Lakers. The latest win which also came in Detroit, ended in extra time as the Pistons pulled out the overtime 112-107 win.
The Raptors were without Kawhi Leonard in their last loss to the Pistons, and the Pistons took advantage. This game the Pistons will have to prep to take on The Claw without having anyone that can really come close to matching up with him, now that Stanley Johnson is New Orleans.
It’ll be interesting to see how Casey game plans to guard Leonard. The Pistons only real small forward on the team is Glenn Robinson III, who is not ideal to guard Leonard and likely wont even be in the rotation.
This leaves Wayne Ellington, Luke Kennard, and Bruce Brown.
Brown may be the best option out of those bunch, but Leonard is a bit too big for Brown. Also, this would take Brown off a more favorable match-up on defense in guarding Kyle Lowry.
The Pistons will need Blake Griffin to continue his assault on the Raptors.
Griffin is averaging 28.5 points per game against the Raptors, with is 3.8 points above his season average.
Andre Drummond will look to avoid foul trouble in this matchup against the Raptors after playing with five fouls for the majority of the second half in their last win. Drummond was killing the Raptors and played some of the best defense we’ve seen from him.
The Pistons were a +27 with Drummond on the court in a five point win over the Raptors. If Drummond can stay out of foul trouble and have the same impact he’s had over the past two and a half months, the Pistons will be in good position.
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Serge Ibaka is out due to being suspended for trying to choke slam Marquese Chriss. Lowry and Fred VanVleet are both questionable.
The game will be on Fox Sports Detroit and will be an earlier tip-off at 4:00pm.