**Pistons at Raptors**

–Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Detroit as an eight-point road ‘chalk’ over Toronto, with the total set at 192 ½. This contest is scheduled to tipoff at 7:05 p.m. ET.

–Detroit (63-15 straight up, 38-39 against the spread) has strung together back-to-back victories both SU and ATS after routing Cleveland Wednesday as an eight-point home favorite, 96-73. The combined 169 points never seriously threatened the 183 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ occur the fourth game in a row.

–The Pistons cruised after jumping out to a 56-29 halftime advantage, and finished the game by shooting 44 percent (38-of-87). Six players reached double digits in scoring, led by Rasheed Wallace’s 16 points and nine rebounds.

–Detroit maintains a 27-12 SU and 18-20 ATS road record, with the ‘under’ going 22-16. The Pistons, winning those affairs by an average score of 94-90, alternate home and away games the rest of the regular season.

–Detroit has dominated this series with Toronto, going 6-0 SU and 3-2-1 ATS the previous six meetings. The Pistons dumped the Raptors March 15 as a seven-point road favorite, 105-98, while the combined 203 points eclipsed the 194 1/2-point closing total. The ‘over’ has cashed the last five games between these teams.

–Toronto (26-53 SU, 41-33 ATS) is mired in a brutal 13-game SU losing skid, while going a modest 5-7-1 ATS. Things are so bad right now for the Raptors, that they are still searching for their first SU victory of the month.

–Toronto’s downward spiral continued with Wednesday’s loss to Orlando as a 10 1/2-point road underdog, 103-96. The combined 199 points failed to topple the 203 1/2-point closing total, helping the ‘under’ improve to 3-1 the last four games.

–The Raptors did finish the contest with a rebounding advantage, 41-37, while shooting a solid 47 percent (37-of-78) from the field. Morris Peterson stepped up with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Mike James contributed 21, five and five assists.

–Toronto has stumbled to a 14-25 SU and 16-21 ATS home record, dropping those affairs by an average score of 104-103. The Raptors play their last home game Monday versus Indiana before closing out its season at Chicago.

–Toronto is playing out the string the rest of the regular season, while Detroit is already guaranteed the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

–Toronto forward Matt Bonner (ankle) and forward Chris Bosh (hand) are ‘out’ for the rest of the season.

**Sixers at Heat**

–LVSC has Miami as a six-point home favorite over Philadelphia, with the total set at 202. This matchup is slated to start at 7:35 p.m. ET.

–Philadelphia (37-41 SU, 36-41 ATS) recorded its third consecutive victory both SU and ATS by pummeling New Jersey Wednesday as a four-point road underdog, 116-96. The combined 212 points soared ‘over’ the 189-point closing total, ending back-to-back ‘under’ outings.

–The Sixers outrebounded the Nets, 45-37, while shooting a blistering 50 percent (44-of-88) from the field. Guard Allen Iverson led all scorers with 40 points on 13-of-26 shooting along with 10 assists, while Chris Webber added 18 and 11 rebounds.

–Philadelphia sports a 15-23 SU and 17-21 ATS road record, dropping those games by an average score of 102-98. The Sixers wrap up their three-game road trip with Saturday’s contest against Orlando.

–Philadelphia has dropped its last two games versus Miami both SU and ATS, with the ‘over’ occurring the previous four encounters. The Heat knocked off the Sixers Dec. 16 as a 2 1/2-point road favorite, 112-105, while the combined 217 points toppled the 199-point closing total.

–Miami (51-27 SU, 35-42 ATS) has alternated SU and ATS wins and losses its last six games after beating Toronto Tuesday as an 8 1/2-point home ‘chalk,’ 106-97. The combined 203 points slithered ‘over’ the 202 1/2-point closing total, ending a string of three straight ‘under’ outings.

–The Heat dominated the Raptors in rebounding, 44-31, and points in the paint, 54-20. Shaquille O’Neal enjoyed a solid evening with 15 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Antoine Walker poured in 32, eight and five.

–Miami owns an impressive 30-9 SU home record, but is a pedestrian 16-22 ATS. The Heat, winning those games by an average score of 103-95, have seen the ‘over’ go 22-16 at home. Miami wraps up its four-game homestand with Sunday’s contest against Chicago.

–Philadelphia continues to play for its postseason lives, while Miami will enter the Eastern Conference playoffs as the second seed.

–Philadelphia guard Kevin Ollie is ‘questionable’ versus the Heat due to a quad injury.

–Miami guard Dwyane Wade (flu) is ‘probable’ versus the Sixers, while forward James Posey (Achilles) is ‘questionable’ and guard Jason Williams (knee) is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.