Pistons and Raptors square off in Auburn Hills
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A pair of Eastern Conference teams playing out the string will meet in the shadow of the Motor City on Sunday when the Detroit Pistons entertain the Toronto Raptors.
The Pistons lost for the third time in three nights on Friday in Auburn Hills, a 91-80 setback at the hands of a Kevin Love-less Minnesota team.
Tayshaun Prince scored 18 points and Will Bynum supplied 17, all in the fourth quarter, but the Timberwolves snapped an 11-game skid and a 27-game April losing streak dating back to April 8, 2009 at Golden State.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"There are no excuses," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank told the team's official website. "The schedule is what it is. The last time we had three (games) in three (days), our best game was the third game on the road. This is when you have to fight even harder through things. It's not going to be easy, nor should it be easy."
Toronto, meanwhile, was routed in its last outing, a 96-72 loss in Miami.
James Johnson paced the Raptors with 18 points and six rebounds, Alan Anderson had 15 points and DeMar DeRozan finished with 12 points for Toronto, which matched a franchise low with 23 second-half points against the Heat and has lost six of its last eight games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We had some trouble scoring in the second half," Raptors head coach Dwane Casey said. "I thought we did a decent job of moving the ball in the second half and I liked our fight, but for us to get where we want to, I told our guys we have to have a fight for 48 minutes."
Detroit has won 13 of its last 16 at home against Toronto.