Raptors vs Pistons Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Expect a Shoot-First IQ in Detroit

It’s happened. The Toronto Raptors have hit rock bottom. 

I say this because the NBA odds have the Raptors listed as 3.5-point underdogs for tonight’s matchup against the... wait for it... the Detroit Pistons. Yes, the same Pistons team that lost 28 consecutive games earlier this season.

However, the number seems just. The Pistons have won two of their last three with the wins coming against other Eastern Conference bottom feeders in Brooklyn and Charlotte. Can they make it three of four tonight?

I break down this East battle and bring you the best bet in my NBA picks and predictions for Raptors vs. Pistons.

Raptors vs Pistons odds

Raptors vs Pistons predictions

It looked like the Toronto Raptors without Scottie Barnes, Immanuel Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, and Gary Trent Jr. might pull off an improbable win against the defending champion Nuggets on Monday night but it was not meant to be.

Nikola Jokic recorded a triple-double as the Nuggets chipped away at Toronto's lead, eventually pulling out a 125-119 victory. But hey, at least Toronto covered the (checks notes) 17.5-point spread!?

That’s the state of things for the Raptors these days. Underdogs much more often than not. Despite the expected return of Immanuel Quickley, that will be the case for tonight’s matchup against the Detroit Pistons.

Yes, the Raps will be getting 3.5 points against a team that lost 28 straight games at one point earlier in the year and still ranks next to last in the NBA when it comes to net rating.

And while Quickley is expected back tonight, RJ Barrett will be out. So, that should mean IQ Overs against a Pistons team that ranks 28th in defensive rating this season, right?

Not so fast. His assist prop is on the board at a lofty 8.5 because he's put up some big assist totals in the last couple of weeks, but what reliable scorer will he be passing to tonight? Not Barnes, not Barrett, and not Poeltl in the post. Gary Trent Jr., maybe? The options are limited to put it nicely. 

That has me thinking Quickley will try to shoulder more of the scoring load and sportsbooks agree. His point total prop of 23.5 is the highest we’ve seen for Quickley as a Raptor. And while the Pistons are vulnerable defensively, they surprisingly rank 12th in opponent assists per possession.

Even with the recent outburst in assists, he's only eclipsed this number four times in his last 15 games. Look for IQ to be a shoot-first player in tonight’s matchup and take the Under on his assist prop.

My best bet: Immanuel Quickley Under 8.5 assists (+105 at PointsBet)

Raptors vs Pistons same-game parlay

Immanuel Quickley Under 8.5 assists

Cade Cunningham Over 23.5 points

Isaiah Stewart Over 7.5 rebounds

+550 at PointsBet

I’ve written at length about how bad Toronto's defense has been since they traded OG Anunoby for Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett, but for those new here, it’s been bad. Toronto has the second-worst defensive rating since Jan. 1, behind only the Jazz.

Offensively, the Pistons aren’t good, but they aren’t the worst either, ranking 20th in offensive rating since their horrific losing streak ended. Cade Cunningham — despite Detroit doing its best to suck the soul out of him — is still the Pistons' best offensive player.

He's averaging 22.6 points while shooting 45.3% from the field, including 26% from 3-point range, and he’s heating up lately, upping his production to 25.4 ppg over his last 10 games. His point total is sitting at 23.5 for this matchup. It’s a number he’s eclipsed six times over those 10 games.\

The Raptors have also struggled mightily on the glass with the second-worst rebounding rate since Jan. 1. Isaiah Stewart is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game this season and has recorded 9+ boards in three of his last seven games. 

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Bet on Raptors basketball at PointsBet Canada

Looking to bet on some Raptors action? Join PointsBet, one of Canada’s favourite books for new bettors!

Sign Up Now 

Raptors vs Pistons spread and Over/Under analysis

Funnily enough, the last time these two teams met, the Pistons ended their historic 28-game losing streak. The Raptors had traded OG Anunoby but did not yet have Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett on the roster. They lost 129-127 as 4-point road favorites.

Suffice to say, a lot has changed. This time around, the Raptors have opened as 3.5-point road underdogs and that’s where the line remains as of Wednesday afternoon. 

Part of that has to do with injuries. Toronto will be without Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett, Jakob Poeltl, and Chris Boucher. Quickley and Gary Trent Jr. are both still listed as questionable.

The rest of it has to do with what I noted above. The Raptors have not played good defense in 2024, and not having Barnes has been the nail in the coffin in terms of having any hope of turning things around.

Meanwhile, the Pistons, for their part, have been much more reliable on offense lately. Cade Cunningham is very talented and it appears they have a few other pieces they can build around, including Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren.

Still, it’s the Pistons. They’ve only been favored six times this season and lost four of those games straight up. The two wins came against the Hornets. There's too much potential variance in this matchup for me to take a side.

The total, on the other hand, is a little more interesting. That is still sitting around the opening number of 232. With these two defenses, this number is low enough to consider the Over.

Raptors vs Pistons betting trend to know

The Raptors have gone Over the total in 23 of their last 31 road games for +14.2 units and a 42% ROI. Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Pistons.

Raptors vs Pistons game info

Raptors vs Pistons latest injuries

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic