Pistons at Raptors
THE STORY: The Detroit Pistons have had their share of struggles on the road. The Toronto Raptors have been almost as bad in their own building. One team will buck the trend as the teams do battle for the first time this season Wednesday night at the Air Canada Centre. The Pistons have just three victories in 16 games away from Detroit, but one of those wins - a 98-88 triumph over Boston - kickstarted a three-game winning streak that ended with a narrow loss Tuesday night in Cleveland. The Pistons will lineup against a Toronto team that sits just 4-11 in its own building so far this season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Detroit, TSN2
ABOUT THE PISTONS (11-23): Two victories over the undermanned Celtics sandwiched around a shootout victory over the Sacramento Kings gave the Pistons some momentum, but they frittered it all away after blowing a 17-point lead to the Cavaliers. Hard work on the boards has been the club's signature of late, with Detroit owning a plus-17 rebound differential in its past four games. Center Greg Monroe has been the catalyst for the team's surprising 7-4 showing so far in February, averaging more than 17 points and 10 rebounds in the month.
ABOUT THE RAPTORS (9-23): Toronto wraps up a seven-game homestand Wednesday night that has provided Raptors fans with few highlights. The Raptors are just 1-5 heading into the finale, though fatigue may have played a role in the team's recent struggles. Toronto has had four days off since its last game, the first time this season that the Raptors have had consecutive days off at any point. They'll get five more days of rest thanks to the All-Star break, with their next game set for Tuesday in Houston.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Detroit won three of four meetings between the clubs a season ago.
2. The Pistons will have plenty of time to heal up for a busy conclusion to the season; following Wednesday's game, they play just four times over the next 15 days.
3. Both teams average fewer than 89 points per game, though the Pistons have been stronger of late - they've averaged better than 102 points during their past four outings.