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Raptors’ last preseason game takes them to Detroit

The Toronto Raptors will close out their preseason campaign tonight with a trip to Detroit, where they’ll face the Pistons in their final tune-up before the regular season begins. Toronto enters the game with a split record of 2-2, having dropped a lopsided loss to Miami but followed it with back-to-back wins over the Clippers and Knicks, along with a narrow defeat to the Knicks in their most recent outing.

Meanwhile, the Pistons arrive on the back of a home-court advantage, having played their last preseason match just three days earlier. With both teams likely to rest key players, tonight’s contest could serve as a final audition for roster spots, as coaches evaluate depth and chemistry ahead of the official season kickoff.

Toronto’s preseason has highlighted persistent struggles on the boards, where they’ve been outmuscled in losses but dominated in victories—a trend that could resurface against Detroit’s sizeable frontcourt. Jalen Duren, a top-10 rebounder last season, leads a Pistons unit that includes Cade Cunningham, John Collins, and Ausar Thompson, all averaging over five rebounds per game.

To counter that, Toronto will lean on Collin Murray-Boyles, whose rim protection and defensive positioning have been standout assets, while Scottie Barnes will need to elevate his production when Jakob Poeltl sits. Detroit’s offensive versatility, anchored by shooters like Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter, will test Toronto’s defense, which has shown improvement but remains unproven against teams with similar spacing strategies.

On offense, Toronto’s rotation has taken shape, with Kawhi Leonard, RJ Barrett, and Barnes leading the way, while role players like Malcolm Brogdon, CMB, and Shea Gilgeous-Alexander have all contributed double-digit scoring in recent games.

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