NBA Cup: Raptors try to halt 5-game skid in matchup vs Pistons

Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic talks with guard Ochai Agbaji (30) in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

When the Raptors face the visiting Detroit Pistons on Friday night in both teams’ second NBA Cup game, Toronto will aim to end a five-game losing streak.

In their opening Cup game Tuesday, the Pistons won 123-121 in overtime over the visiting Miami Heat.

Despite Gradey Dick’s career-best 32 points, the Raptors dropped their Cup opener 99-85 on Tuesday to the Milwaukee Bucks to end a five-game road trip.

The Pistons faced the Bucks the next day and suffered a 127-120 overtime road loss after leading by 18 points. Ron Holland II missed two free throws in the final second of regulation that could have won the game. Cade Cunningham had 35 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and two steals for Detroit, which allowed a 59-point performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo.

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Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff looks at the NBA Cup as preparation for playoff-style games for his young team.

“Understanding possessions matter more, turnovers matter more, rebounds, execution, all those things matter more in meaningful basketball games,” Bickerstaff said this week.

The Pistons have won five games this season and appear poised to easily surpass last season’s franchise-worst 14 victories, which has the players enthused.

“It’s been fun, that’s all I can really say,” said Jalen Duren, who had nine points, nine rebounds and six assists on Wednesday. “It’s been super fun since the start, since preseason. Getting to know these guys, growing with these guys, even the guys that have been here, growing with them and continuing to get better and learn each other, it’s been great. We’ve been through a lot.”

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The Pistons were without Tim Hardaway Jr. (head laceration), Jaden Ivey (right great toe sprain) and Simone Fontecchio (left great toe sprain) in Milwaukee. All three are day-to-day.

The Raptors also are dealing with injuries, most notably Scottie Barnes (right orbital fracture) and Immanuel Quickley (left elbow UCL partial tear). Quickley missed eight games this season with a pelvic contusion suffered in the season opener. Bruce Brown (knee) and Kelly Olynyk (back) have also been out.

Toronto has struggled defensively.

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“We were scrambling to guard very basic actions,” Jakob Poeltl said after Toronto’s 123-103 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. “For sure they have good offensive players that make plays and punish mistakes, but we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. … We shouldn’t be making mistakes like these.”

In the loss to the Bucks, the Raptors committed 22 turnovers leading to 28 points.

“I really thought we were fighting and competing for 48 minutes,” Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said after Tuesday’s loss. “I thought turnovers were a big problem for us.”

Rajakovic did take some positives from the team’s attitude during the winless trip.

“They understand the situation that they’re in that they’re undermanned with the injuries we’re dealing with,” he said. “The guys are showing a lot of togetherness and a lot of fight and I’m really proud of that. We’ve got to continue pounding, we’ve got to take one game at a time and focus on us and our development.”

The Pistons won two of three over the Raptors last season, losing the lone game at Toronto.

The last time the teams met, Duren had 24 points and a career-best 23 rebounds on March 13 when the host Pistons won 113-104. –Field Level Media