Toronto @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 7, 2018 ) Toronto 121, Detroit 119

The Toronto Raptors are gearing up for what they hope is a long playoff run by giving some of their key players a little rest down the stretch, but the wins keep coming. The Raptors aim for their fourth consecutive win when they open a regular season-ending two-game road trip against the Detroit Pistons on Monday.

With leading scorer DeMar DeRozan and starting center Jonas Valanciunas resting in the first half of a back-to-back, Toronto finished its home slate with a 112-101 win over Orlando on Sunday. "Just execution, attention to detail," coach Dwane Casey told reporters of what he's looking for in the final few games. "You've got examples all around the league where teams underestimate teams around the league that are so-called playing for the lottery, whatever they're playing for, a rebuild, playing young players, giving young players minutes. We want to work on some little things. We'll sprinkle some things that we want to use next week every now and then in." The Pistons had won eight of 10 games and had a chance to finish at .500 before falling 130-117 at Memphis on Sunday. Detroit allowed the Grizzlies to shoot 57.8 percent from the floor while giving up 130 points in a regulation game for the first time since March 12, 2011.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One (Toronto), FS Detroit

ABOUT THE RAPTORS (58-22): Casey indicated he would give another starter the night off in Detroit but seems intent on playing everyone in the finale of the regular season at Miami on Wednesday. He was unable to dodge any bullets in Sunday's affair as three players - center Lucas Nogueira (hamstring), guard Fred VanVleet (back) and forward Norman Powell (ankle) - each suffered injuries, although Powell returned to the court following his. C.J. Miles led the way with 22 points and OG Anunoby added 21 points after posting 21 straight single-digit scoring efforts.

ABOUT THE PISTONS (38-42): Henry Ellenson provided one of the few positives in Sunday's loss with a career-high 17 points while making 4-of-6 from 3-point range. Luke Kennard was 4-for-4 from beyond the arc as Detroit hit a season-high 23 triples in 47 attempts, but it was all for naught in the face of a poor effort on the other end of the floor. "Our defense was horrendous," coach Stan Van Gundy told reporters. "They're the next to worst offense in the league and they scored at least 30 in each quarter. There's nothing to be happy about there."

BUZZER BEATERS

1. Pistons PF Blake Griffin (ankle) missed his sixth straight game Sunday and PG Reggie Jackson (illness) did not play in the fourth quarter.

2. The Raptors finished with a 34-7 home record, tied with Houston for the best mark in the NBA.

3. Toronto took the first three meetings this season and has won five in a row overall against Detroit.

PREDICTION: Raptors 109, Pistons 104