By AP
DETROIT – The Toronto Raptors haven't been making things easy on themselves lately, and their playoff chances took a major hit with a devastating loss last time out.
Mired in a five-game losing streak, the banged-up Raptors (38-42) try to avoid being eliminated from postseason consideration Monday night when they visit a Detroit Pistons team that has already defeated two playoff-bound teams this past week.
The Pistons (26-54) have their most losses since going 28-54 in 1994-95, but they haven't given up.
After defeating third-place Atlanta 90-88 on Wednesday and sixth-place Miami 106-99 two days later to win its third in a row, Detroit nearly knocked off seventh-place Charlotte on Saturday.
Playing without Richard Hamilton (ankle) and Rodney Stuckey (rib), the Pistons led the Bobcats by one with just over a minute remaining, but missed their final four shots and lost 99-95.