October 16, 2026 · NBA preseason
The Toronto Raptors continue their preseason preparations as they work to build chemistry, sharpen their defensive rotations and establish consistency ahead of the 2026–27 NBA regular season.
Tonight’s matchup is against the Detroit Pistons on the road.
The focus for Toronto is on execution, ball movement and evaluating how its rotation performs against a physical opponent.
Final score: Toronto 125, Detroit 129
The Raptors finished their preseason schedule with a narrow four-point loss to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on Friday night.
Toronto mounted a strong offensive effort, scoring 45 points in the fourth quarter, but Detroit held on for the victory.
Game summary
Toronto competed with Detroit throughout the contest, but the Pistons gradually gained the advantage after a tied opening quarter.
Detroit scored 34 points in the third to create separation, forcing the Raptors to chase the game in the final period.
The Raptors responded with an impressive 45-point fourth quarter, making the finish competitive.
However, the comeback fell short as Detroit secured the four-point win.
Detroit’s key performers
Cade Cunningham: Led Detroit with 18 points and seven assists, shooting efficiently from the field.
Jalen Duren: Contributed 14 points and provided an interior scoring presence.
Ausar Thompson: Added 12 points, three rebounds and four assists, showing versatility on both ends of the floor.
Ebuka Okorie: Scored 14 points in limited minutes and helped Detroit close out the contest
Three takeaways for Toronto
1. Offensive resilience
Scoring 45 points in the fourth quarter demonstrated Toronto’s ability to generate offense under pressure, even when trailing late.
2. Defensive consistency remains important
Detroit’s 34-point third quarter proved costly.
Toronto will need to limit opponents’ scoring runs and improve its defensive execution.
3. Preseason evaluation comes first
With Toronto resting its starters because of the back-to-back schedule, the game offered an opportunity for other players to compete for rotation roles.
The result was less important than evaluating depth and readiness for the regular season.
Final verdict
The Raptors closed their preseason with a competitive performance but ultimately fell short against Detroit, 129–125.
The late offensive surge was encouraging, while the defensive lapses in the middle quarters highlighted areas to address before the regular season begins.
