 | Toronto | 87 | Final Box Score | 75 | Detroit |  |
 B+ | D. Carroll24 MIN, 12 PTS, 1 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 4-9 FG, 1-4 3FG, 3-4 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 5 +/- The line won’t impress anyone from DeMarre tonight, but he was very good when needed, and kept the Raptors in the game early when both teams were struggling to score. Not a great game, but definitely an improvement from what the team has had from him lately. | |
 A | S. Ibaka34 MIN, 17 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 6-14 FG, 3-8 3FG, 2-2 FT, 0 BLK, 3 TO, 14 +/- Ibaka struggled offensively out of the gate tonight, and it looked like it might be another rough shooting night for him. He put it together though and led the team in scoring, as well as working to hold his own on the glass despite being physically outmatched against Andre Drummond most of the night. | |
 B+ | J. Valanciunas24 MIN, 10 PTS, 8 REB, 0 AST, 1 STL, 5-7 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 6 +/- As usual, JV held his own against Drummond and scored efficiently. Had a couple of great one-handed touch putbacks off missed shots that showed his great hands. Didn’t play late, but it wasn’t because he wasn’t solid when he was out there tonight. | |
 A+ | D. DeRozan36 MIN, 14 PTS, 8 REB, 6 AST, 0 STL, 3-9 FG, 0-1 3FG, 8-8 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 15 +/- Fourteen points certainly isn’t what you expect from DeMar, and 3-9 shooting also isn’t what you want, usually. But the Pistons did a great job trapping DeMar and taking his own scoring away, and he responded by finding guys for easy shots as well as playing hard on defense. Easily one of the best low-scoring efforts he’s ever provided for the Raptors. | |
 A | C. Joseph36 MIN, 9 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST, 0 STL, 3-10 FG, 1-5 3FG, 2-2 FT, 1 BLK, 3 TO, 20 +/- The starting backcourt for the Raptors couldn’t score tonight, but they worked hard defensively, and on the boards, and created opportunities for other guys. Cory’s defense hasn’t been what’s expected of him often this year, but it was solid tonight. | |
 A+ | P. Tucker27 MIN, 8 PTS, 9 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL, 3-6 FG, 2-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 12 +/- PJ Tucker is the embodiment of toughness, and the team adopted his attitude and personality tonight in a tough, gut-it-out win. It’s clear he’s already become one of the vocal leaders of this squad, and his value is hard to overstate to the Raptors at this point with Lowry out. | |
 A | N. Powell19 MIN, 11 PTS, 2 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 4-10 FG, 0-3 3FG, 3-4 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 11 +/- It would still be nice to see Norm hitting some threes, and he had a stretch where he got beat off the dribble by Kentavius Caldwell-Pope several times, but he also came through late in the game and scored a couple key baskets as the Raptors grabbed control in the closing minutes. | |
 C | P. Patterson14 MIN, 6 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST, 0 STL, 2-5 FG, 2-3 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -9 +/- Not sure what’s wrong with Patrick Patterson. He did hit a couple threes tonight, but still just doesn’t look like the guy he was before he got hurt. The Raptors might need him in the postseason, and he needs to find a way to get back to being the glue guy that made him valuable. | |
 B- | J. Poeltl13 MIN, 0 PTS, 6 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 2 TO, -6 +/- One day Jak will have a game where he gets the benefit of some calls from the refs. That game wasn’t tonight, when he once again picked up some quick fouls and wasn’t really given an opportunity to impact the game. Was solid when he was out there, and plays the offensive boards really well. | |
 C | F. VanVleet6 MIN, 0 PTS, 1 REB, 2 AST, 0 STL, 0-2 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 1 TO, -5 +/- Fred had a rough night, and looked overmatched tonight. Thankfully, the team didn’t need much from him, and he’s been good more often than not lately, so hopefully it’s just a 1-game blip. | |
 C | D. Wright6 MIN, 0 PTS, 0 REB, 0 AST, 0 STL, 0-4 FG, 0-0 3FG, 0-0 FT, 0 BLK, 0 TO, -3 +/- Delon’s aggressiveness that’s made him a fan favorite bit him tonight, as he continually attacked the basket and got his shot blocked. Needs to change up the lane of attack when that isn’t working for him. | |
 A | Dwane Casey It looked ugly at points, but without Lowry the Raptors will play ugly sometimes. They gutted out a tough win, and Casey made some good adjustments late, including taking the hit on the boards to play Ibaka at center late, which kept the Pistons defense uncomfortable while allowing the Raptors to switch as they held the Pistons to just 3 points in the last 9 minutes. | |
Things We Saw
- The Raptors in the closing month of the season are going to play a lot of teams like the Pistons. Teams that aren’t great, but are on the playoff bubble and desperate for wins, and this will require some tough performances like they got tonight to survive this stretch.
- Needs to be said again, what a game from DeMar both in terms of distributing and defense. His intensity on defense has been a huge question mark a lot of nights this year, but he brought it tonight, especially late in the game. If he can bring that effort consistently, it unlocks a new level for this team going forward once Lowry is back.
- This one looked really ugly for a lot of the game. The first quarter score was just 16-13, and neither team looked like they could hit a shot. Thankfully, the second half was more watchable, but still not the most aesthetically pleasing game.
- Toronto still has to find some shooting from three-point range going forward. Even with Patterson(2-3), Tucker(2-3), and Ibaka(3-8) having better nights tonight, the team just managed a 9-27 mark overall. The Pistons frequently collapsed the paint and took away passing and penetration lanes, as well as trapping DeMar. That’ll be there for defenses as long as the Raptors fail to punish teams for leaving guys open.
