The Toronto Raptors are the team to lose to the Detroit Pistons, ending their 28-game losing streak.
The Raptors were shorthanded for this one after the team announced that they traded O.G. Anunoby, Precious Achiuwa and Malachi Flynn for Immanuel Quickley, RJ Barrett and a 2024 second-round draft pick (via Detroit).
The Raptors were down by eight points at halftime and couldn’t get themselves out of the hole. The Pistons scored 38 points in the third and 39 points in the fourth on route to the win.
The Raptors became the first team to lose to the Pistons in two months, falling 129-127.
This goes down as arguably the worst loss in franchise history. The Raptors will now be the laughing stock of the league for the next little while. Scottie Barnes struggled, the Raptors got virtually nothing from their bench and Darko Rajakovic once again didn’t know how to make the proper adjustments.
The Raptors were missing guys due to the trade and were on the second night of a back to back but there is no excuse why the Raptors should have lost this game. The Raptors had Barnes and Siakam healthy in this one and still found a way to lose.
Pascal Siakam did all he could for the Raptors finishing with 35 points and Dennis Schroder had 30. Scottie Barnes did score 22 but it wasn’t enough.
The Pistons had six players finish in double-figures, including Cade Cunningham who scored 30 points.
Toronto hopes that the trade they made will turn the franchises fortunes around. They are expected to have Barrett and Quickley on Monday. However, this loss will sting for a long time.
The reality is the Raptors have hit rock bottom after their loss to the Pistons and now they have to pick themselves back up.
Next on tap
Toronto will get the day off on Sunday and then they will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at home on Jan. 1, 2024. A fresh start for this franchise as they will have their newly acquired players in the lineup.
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