Pistons vs. Raptors NBA injury report, odds, spread: Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby out; Jerami Grant questionable Wednesday

As of this writing, Wednesday's Detroit Pistons at Toronto Raptors matchup in the Raptors' temporary home of Tampa, Fla., is expected to be played even though the Raptors have five players in COVID protocols, led by starters Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, as well as head coach Nick Nurse and some of his staff. The Pistons, meanwhile, could be without their leading scorer, Jerami Grant, due to injury. Toronto is a 6-point favorite on the William Hill NBA odds.

Toronto hasn't played since Friday due to the COVID outbreak on the team. Sunday's "home" game vs. Chicago was postponed and originally the Pistons were to visit Tampa on Tuesday, but it was pushed back to tonight.

Because the NBA already has released its second-half schedule it will do whatever it can to get games played before the All-Star break – even if the Raptors will be so short-handed. Two seldom-used reserves, Malachi Flynn and Patrick McCaw, also are out.

VanVleet is tied for the team lead in scoring at 20.1 points per game and first in steals at 1.7 per game, while Siakam also is averaging 20.1 points and leads the club in rebounds at 7.5 per game. Anunoby is averaging 13.8 points and 5.7 rebounds. Anunoby, Siakam and VanVleet have combined for 42 percent of Toronto's total points scored this season.

If the Raptors were playing most teams, they'd be underdogs missing all those guys – but Detroit is terrible. Assistant coach Sergio Scariolo, who led Toronto to a win in its most recent game Friday, will remain as acting coach Wednesday. The Raptors also play Thursday in Boston.

Detroit has lost six of seven, and now that it has traded Derrick Rose and isn't playing Blake Griffin is perhaps the most anonymous roster in the NBA. Grant, the team's big offseason addition, is having a breakout season in averaging 23.4 and is a top Most Improved Player candidate. He's listed as questionable with a left quad injury.

It's the first meeting of the season between the Pistons and Raptors, with Toronto winning all three last year.

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