Pistons Do Raptors a Huge Favor With Lottery Odds On the Line

A victory by the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night has given the Toronto Raptors some breathing room in the reverse NBA standings

A missed floater from Cade Cunningham may change the fortunes for the Toronto Raptors this summer.

Toronto and the Memphis Grizzlies have been neck and neck for the sixth-worst record in the NBA for weeks now, but a Memphis victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night has given the Raptors some breathing room. Toronto now has a 1.5-game lead on the Grizzlies with eight games to go this season.

If the Raptors remain ahead of Memphis, Toronto will have about a 46% chance to keep it's top-six protected first round pick away from the San Antonio Spurs. Those odds drop to nearly 32% if the Grizzlies manage to eke ahead of the Raptors in the reverse standings.

The loss also gave Detroit a full-game lead over the Washington Wizards for the worst record in the NBA, which gives Toronto a better shot at having the first pick in the second round this summer. The Raptors acquired Detroit's second-round pick from the New York Knicks in the OG Anunoby trade.

Toronto and Memphis play fairly similar schedules in terms of the quality of their opponents. The Raptors play six playoff teams in addition to Brooklyn and Washington over their final two weeks. Memphis plays five playoff teams in addition to Detroit and San Antonio over their final seven games.

The return of Immanuel Quickley and RJ Barrett should make the Raptors a little better, but it wouldn't be too surprising if Toronto takes it easy on the pair down the stretch. Gary Trent Jr. is getting the night off Tuesday for "rest" and Quickley and Barrett will probably sit out Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 12, 2024.