Pistons vs. Raptors picks and odds: Back Detroit to cover as huge underdogs
The Toronto Raptors host the Detroit Pistons at Scotiabank Arena tonight.
The pregame narrative: The Raptors are hefty favourites in this matchup against the bottom-feeding Pistons but Dwayne Casey has always performed well against his old team. We’re taking Detroit against the spread and are also fading Toronto’s point total.
NBA odds as of 9:17 a.m. on 03/24/2023.
Pistons vs. Raptors picks
Best Bet: Pistons +13.5 (-112)
Detroit is 16-57 and dead last in the Eastern Conference, but this line feels like a trap.
The Raptors are coming off a disappointing loss to the Indiana Pacers and will likely be shorthanded yet again tonight. Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent and Precious Achiuwa are all listed as questionable and didn't participate in Thursday’s practice.
The Pistons have covered this mark in six of their past 10 games but that isn’t the reason we like this play. The real reason is Dwayne Casey’s history against the Raptors.
Casey is 9-6 outright against Toronto since being hired as Detroit’s head coach, having covered a 13.5-point spread in 13 of those games. His Pistons have played and lost to the Raptors three times this season but none of those losses came by more than four points.
Their last matchup — a 95-91 win for Toronto — was turned into a rock fight where the Raptors shot just 37.5% from the field.
Call it spite, call it money on the board — there’s always a little extra motivation for the Pistons when they suit up against the Raptors.
Key stat: Detroit has covered the spread in nine straight games against Toronto.
Quick picks
Raptors under 118.5 points (-117): The Raptors have only gone over this total twice in their last 10 games against the Pistons and we think tonight will be another tough test. That will be especially true if Barnes, Trent and Achiuwa aren’t available.
Toronto has gone under this number in each of its past two games — but it went over it in the three games prior — while Detroit has surprisingly held opponents under 119 points in three of its past five games.
Under 224 points (-109): Detroit tends to make games ugly and that doesn’t lead to many points. The under has hit in each of the Pistons’ last five road games.
Toronto has been hitting overs at a high clip recently but we’re still going to lean towards a low-scoring contest, given these teams’ history and potential injury concerns.
