Toronto Raptors vs. Detroit Pistons: The NBA Cup continues!

Game two of NBA Cup group plays takes place as the Raptors host the Pistons.

The Toronto Raptors return home tonight to host the Detroit Pistons in night two of NBA Cup play.

It’s been a tough stretch for the home side as of late, having embarked on a five game road trip, mostly out west in California, and having dropped all five games. Toronto’s last win came back on home court on November 2nd, almost two weeks to date, and also marked the night in which Vince Carter’s jersey was retired.

While Vinsanity won’t be in the building for tonight’s matchup, his iconic dunk from the 2000 NBA dunk contest certainly will be. The NBA unveiled all 30 teams’ City edition jerseys for this season, the uniforms to be worn during NBA Cup play, and Toronto’s features their signature Raptor mascot hitting Carter’s contest-winning between-the-legs dunk front and centre.

This is what the team will be rocking tonight, as they look to pick up their first NBA Cup group play victory of the season. Night one of the tournament took place back on Tuesday, as Toronto finished up their road trip in Milwaukee.

Never thought I would write this, but the Raptors now face a team higher up in the standings than the Bucks in the Detroit Pistons. At 5-8, the Motor City squad is showing improvements upon their historically awful 2023-24 campaign that saw the team tie the NBA record for longest losing streak of all time.

Simultaneously trying to tank but also stay competitive and get back in the win column, the Raptors have their work cut out for them with five players still out on the injured list. Gradey Dick and RJ Barrett have led the way scoring wise, and have a good matchup in front of them in the Pistons.

Win or lose, this Raptors team is in every game and will bring that fire tonight as they debut their stylish new uniforms and court.

Where to Watch:

Sportsnet, 7:00 pm EST

Lineups:

Toronto: Immanuel Quickley, Gradey Dick, RJ Barrett, Ochai Agbaji, Jakob Poeltl

Detroit: Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Malik Beasley, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Injuries:

Toronto: Scottie Barnes — orbital fracture (OUT), Kelly Olynyk — back (OUT), Bruce Brown — knee (OUT), Ja’Kobe Walter — shoulder (OUT), DJ Carton — ankle (Day to day)

Detroit: Ausar Thompson — conditioning (OUT), Bobi Klintman — calf (OUT), Simone Fontecchio — toe (Doubtful), Tim Hardaway Jr. — head (Doubtful), Jaden Ivey — toe (Questionable)

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Jurassic Park

The Raptors are finally back home! The team returns back to Scotiabank Arena after nearly two weeks away on a road trip. Debuting their new City Edition jerseys and NBA Cup court, it should be a ruckus environment for Raptors faithful hoping to see their squad get back in the win column. Toronto always does a great job with events, on-court performances and other activations around the arena, so it should make for a fun environment full of energy to support the home team in their return.

DBQ?

While the BBQ trio of Barnes, Barrett and Quickley have yet to suit up for a single game together this season, Gradey Dick’s emergence as one of the league’s early favourites for the Most Improved Player award has inserted his name into the upper echelon of Raptors talent. DBQ doesn’t have that same ring to it, so maybe we’ll keep that trio separate and come up with a different nickname or group for the young guard out of Kansas. Both him and Agbaji are Kansas alums, so maybe something to do with Jayhawks? Either way, Gradey more than deserves his own nickname with the performances he’s put up this season, averaging 20 points on solid efficiency.

D. Mitchell

No, not that D. Mitchell, who’s currently leading the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers with nearly 24 points a night. I’m talking about Davion Mitchell of the Toronto Raptors. While Immanuel Quickley was out, the fourth-year guard out of Auburn stepped up into the starting point guard role and has impressed this season. Returning back to the bench for two of the team’s last three games, Mitchell has kept up his playmaking and defence while his role has shrunk somewhat. The former King put up at least four rebounds and assists with IQ back in the lineup, and stepped up for the team-lead with eight assists in Tuesday’s loss to Milwaukee. Quickley looks to draw back into the lineup tonight, but with Detroit’s most lethal scorer being point guard Cade Cunningham, Mitchell might see some more playing time to lock down the oppositions number one option, while dishing out some dimes here and there.