Toronto Raptors vs. Detroit Pistons - 12/18/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Toronto Raptors vs Detroit Pistons

Date: Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI

TV: Fox Sports Detroit

Odds/Point Spread: Toronto -2.5

Total/Over-Under: 218

Fred VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors (18-8, 3rd in the Atlantic Division) head to Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday where they'll meet the Detroit Pistons (11-16, 3rd in the Central Division). The spread on this game has Toronto as 2.5 point favorites. The over/under is set at 218.

The Raptors cover 57.7% of the time, having gone 15-11-0 ATS. Detroit is covering the spread 42.3% of the time, going 11-15-1 against the spread.

Key Toronto Raptors Injuries

12/16/2019 Fred VanVleet SG Knee Expected to be out until at least Dec 18
12/15/2019 Stanley Johnson SF Groin Expected to be out until at least Dec 18
11/26/2019 Matt Thomas SG Finger Expected to be out until at least Dec 28

Key Detroit Pistons Injuries

12/16/2019 Andre Drummond C Eye Expected to be out until at least Dec 18
12/16/2019 Blake Griffin PF Knee Expected to be out until at least Dec 18
12/4/2019 Reggie Jackson PG Back Expected to be out until at least Dec 23
11/13/2019 Khyri Thomas SG Foot Expected to be out until at least Jan 1

Player Spotlight

Fred VanVleet comes into this game averaging 18.0 points per contest while playing 36.6 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.8 rebounds per contest and distributes 7.0 assists per game. His FG percentage is 41% while his free throw percentage is 88%. Pascal Siakam averages 25.0 points per contest in 36.7 minutes per game. He averages 3.6 assists per game and 8.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Luke Kennard scores 16.1 points per contest while playing 33.0 minutes per game. He hauls in 3.5 rebounds per contest and has 4.2 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is at 90%. Andre Drummond averages 17.7 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.8 minutes per game. He also brings in 16.6 rebounds per game and has 2.9 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 55% and his free throw percentage is 63%.

Useful Team Statistics

Toronto averages 111.7 points per contest, which is 14th in the league. Their average scoring margin is 6.0 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 18th. From 3-point territory they shoot 38%, which is good for 4th in the NBA. They average 46.3 boards per contest and 25.2 assists per game, which ranks them 8th and 8th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 17th with 15.1 per game. The Raptors allow 105.7 points per contest, which is 7th in the NBA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 33% average from 3-point range, ranking them 2nd and 5th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 48.6 rebounds a game which ranks 30th, and they allow 25.7 assists per game which puts them in 25th place in the league. They force 16.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 28th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Detroit is 18th in the NBA with 109.3 points per contest this season. They are 7th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is -0.33. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 1st in the league. They are 25th in the NBA in rebounding with 43.0 boards per contest and 11th in assists per game with 25.0. The Pistons are 8th in turnovers per contest with 16.0. The Pistons give up 109.6 points per game, which ranks them 16th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 22nd and 21st in those defensive statistics. They rank 20th with 24.9 dimes allowed per game and 4th with 41.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Pistons are 7th in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Raptors are 12th in the NBA in offensive rating with 109.6, and their defensive rating of 103.7 is ranked 4th. In terms of pace they are 12th in the league with 101.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 12th. As a team they are 12th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 41% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league. Toronto is 16th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 49%, which is 30th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Detroit is 5th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 10th in the league. The Pistons are 10th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.3, and their defensive rating of 110.6 is ranked 19th. In terms of pace they are 23rd in the league with 99.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 54% is 6th. As a team they are 7th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 14th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Raptors/Pistons NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Detroit +2.5

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