Who's Playing
Matchup: Toronto Raptors vs. Detroit Pistons
Records: Raptors (34-14), Pistons (17-32)
Where to Watch
Date: Jan. 31, 2020
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
TV: Sportsnet One (Canada), Fox Sports Detroit or NBA League Pass (USA)
Location: Little Caesar's Arena, Detroit, MI
Game Preview
Following a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Raptors put their winning streak on the line against the Pistons, doing so on the second night of a back-to-back.
MORE: How have the Raptors played in back-to-backs?
It's been a struggle all season long for the Pistons, due in large part to a knee injury to Blake Griffin, who has played in only 18 games and is expected to miss the remainder of the season. The Pistons are currently in a rough stretch, having lost five of their last six games, the lone win coming against the Sacramento Kings.
The Pistons, however, still have some offensive firepower in Derrick Rose, Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond. Rose has scored 20 or more points in 13 straight games, the longest streak of his career. Jackson has played four games since returning from injury and is posting 18.8 points and 4.3 assists in only 23.4 minutes. Drummond hasn't been scoring at quite as high of a rate as them lately, but he leads the league with 4.5 offensive rebounds per game on the season.
That's a huge source of offence for Drummond — he's scoring 3.9 points per game off of those putbacks, putting him behind only Portland Trail Blazers centre Hassan Whiteside for most in the league.
Drummond's ability to dominate the offensive glass could be problematic for the Raptors, who are giving up the second-most offensive rebounds per game in the league. It doesn't help that Toronto will have to get it done without Marc Gasol, who is listed out with a hamstring injury.
In Toronto's win over Cleveland, Serge Ibaka started in place of Gasol and led the way with 26 points. Chris Boucher also got more of an opportunity with Gasol on the sideline, scoring 10 points in 14 minutes off the bench.
The Raptors will need the two of them to be at their best against Drummond.
MORE: Ibaka makes NBA history
Injury Report
Raptors
Marc Gasol (hamstring) – Out
Dewan Hernandez (ankle) – Out
Pistons
Blake Griffin (knee) – Out
Luke Kennard (knee) – Out
Markieff Morris (illness) – Out
Khyri Thomas (foot) – Out
Game Notes
- Toronto has won eight of the last 11 against Detroit.
- With a win, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse will be head coach of Team Giannis in the 2020 NBA All-Star Game.
- Derrick Rose has scored at least 20 points in 13-straight games, extending the longest 20-plus point streak of his career. He is just the eighth Piston to ever record such a streak and the first to do so since Jerry Stackhouse (21-straight in 2000-01).
- Pistons head coach Dwane Casey coached the Raptors from 2011-18. Casey led the Raptors to a franchise-record five-straight postseason appearances and won Coach of the Year in 2017- 18. Casey went 320-238 in seven seasons in Toronto.
- Raptors forward Stanley Johnson spent three-plus seasons in Detroit (2015-19), posting averages of 7.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals in 267 games (64 starts).
Last Time They Played
Date: Dec. 18, 2019
Score: Raptors 112, Pistons 99
Raptors: Serge Ibaka – 25 PTS (10-18 FG), 13 REB (7 OFF)
Pistons: Andre Drummond – 22 PTS (9-16 FG), 18 REB (6 OFF)
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