Raptors Outworked and Outclassed by Visiting Detroit Pistons
Poor rebounding, defending, and shooting sent the Toronto Raptors into the NBA All-Star break on a sour note, as they fell 113-95 to the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena.
Pistons Dominate Despite Short-Handed Roster
The Detroit Pistons arrived in Toronto a bit short-handed but rarely showed any signs of weakness, especially during a one-sided first half. They built a 15-point lead by halftime, thanks to dominance on the glass and superior shooting accuracy. Superstar point guard Cade Cunningham led the charge with 28 points in just three quarters, while unlikely starter Paul Reed added 22 points, helping the team shoot over 50% from the field for much of the game.
Raptors Struggle with Physicality and Execution
The Raptors struggled to match the Pistons' intensity, trailing by as many as 20 points after three quarters. Scottie Barnes played solidly but received little support from his teammates. Head coach Darko Rajakovic noted that physicality has been a consistent issue against top opponents, with the team dropping to 11-16 against teams .500 or above this season. "Our physicality is not really based on muscle and size, which we don’t have a lot of, but more on our activity and covering for each other," Rajakovic explained.
Return of Jakob Poeltl Offers Mixed Results
In a silver lining, the Raptors welcomed back center Jakob Poeltl after a 25-game absence, marking just the 13th time this season the full starting lineup was available. Poeltl, under a minutes restriction, finished with nine points and six rebounds in 20 minutes, showing rust early but improving in the second half. "I’m just going to try to play as free as possible," Poeltl said before the game. The team fell to 9-4 with its top five-man group on the court.
Unexpected Contributions from Pistons' Depth
With Pistons all-star center Jalen Duren and backup Isaiah Stewart suspended, third-stringer Paul Reed stepped up unexpectedly. Reed, averaging only 12.2 minutes per game, hit his first six shots for 13 quick points and added a monster block, showcasing Detroit's depth. This performance highlighted why the Pistons are one of only two teams with 40 wins so far this season.
As the Raptors head into the break, they face challenges in rebounding and defense, needing to address physicality issues to compete against elite teams in the Eastern Conference.
