The Toronto Raptors play their second meaningless game in as many nights when they face the Pistons in Detroit. The men from Motor City enjoyed a strong start to their season, winning 14 of their first 20 games. They lost their next seven, and never regained their winning ways.
Top man (though for how much longer?) Stan Van Gundy completed a blockbuster deal in late January for power forward Blake Griffin. His arrival didn’t make the difference for the Pistons, nor did the Los Angeles Clippers improve enough to duck into the playoffs.
The Pistons will be in the draft lottery for the third straight season, and eighth in their last nine.