PLAYER OF THE GAME MICHAEL STEWART Played well off the bench recording a season-high seven points and five boards in 16 minutes. QUOTE OF THE DAY "I get so anxious about coming back here and having a good game." - former Raptor Corliss Williamson KEY STAT The Raptors had 21 turnovers in the game, tying a season high. LINE OF THE GAME Detroit's bench scored 32 points while the Raptors' subs netted just 21. TOP HIGHLIGHT Dell Curry gave Morris Peterson a sweet alley-oop pass in the third quarter that brought the crowd to its feet. HUSTLE BOARD Team RB ST BLK TOT DET 36 10 9 55 TOR 43 11 3 57

72	80
February 22 at Air Canada Centre

Trading and signing players in today's NBA climate is very much like poker. You've got to know when to hold 'em.

Raptors GM Glen Grunwald may have relied on that advice more than once during his four-plus years at the helm but in no other instance had it been so clear.

Grunwald decided to let his team get healthy instead of trying to tinker as Thursday's trading deadline came and went without a swap by the often-busy executive. Not even a prolonged losing streak would force Grunwald's hand and for good reason. The fact is help is on the way even if the team really doesn't know when.

Toronto was injected with one key ingredient on Friday night against the Detroit Pistons. Jerome Williams returned to the lineup after missing nine games with an ankle injury but his presence alone wasn't enough to get by the Detroit Pistons.

The Raptors fell for the seventh straight time, 80-72, and continue to look for offensive answers without Vince Carter. They failed to reach the 80-point mark for the third straight game.

"The last three or four games we've been playing not to lose," Morris Peterson said. "We just have to get the job done, plain and simple, we can't hang our heads."

The Raptors looked like they all belonged on the injured list in the first quarter. Toronto managed just 12 points on 31.3 per cent shooting. Pistons forward Cliff Robinson compounded the problem going 4-for-5 to help open up a 12-point lead after one.

The team battled back in the second and third but gave up the ball at an alarming rate, 21 turnovers marred the played, which tied Toronto's season high. Two crucial giveaways in the dying minutes killed any hope for a comeback.

"When you're undermanned like this you can't afford to make mistakes," Dell Curry said. "They were able to capitalize on mistakes."

Foul shots were another issue that perturbed Coach Lenny Wilkens. The team went 9-for-19 from the charity stripe.

"We've got to make free throws, there's no excuse," Wilkens said. "They have to really focus and get ready to shoot."

Despite the continuing poor results the fact remains the Raptors didn't pull the trigger on a deal because there's a belief things will turn around when the injuries subside.

With everyone available, the Raptors got to eight games over .500 earlier this month, only to have the plague begin just before the All-Star break. Now they are just hanging on to a playoff position.

The most devastating loss has been Carter's. Take the best player off any team and it's going to struggle. Toronto got it twice as bad because his absence has been combined with the loss of Hakeem Olajuwon, Curry, Williams and Tracy Murray.

"We don't know when he could be back," Curry said. "He could be out the rest of the year. You don't know. We have to find a way to win."

Being healthy is the key to any professional sports team and the Raptors are no different. But it’s the quality of talent Toronto has lost that has hurt it most. When they do get off the trainers' table and back on the court the wins should return, at least that's what Grunwald hopes.

Notes: Toronto has lost seven straight for the first time since March 20 to April 12 of 1998 when it dropped 13 straight … The Raptors have tied their franchise mark for sellouts in a season (27) set last year … Keon Clark and Antonio Davis recorded double-doubles … Premier Mike Harris and Liberal Jean Charest were in attendance.
--- by John McCauley, raptors.com

LEADERBOARD
TORONTO		DETROIT
Davis	Points: Davis - 17 Rebounds: Davis - 13 Assists: A. Williams - 8	Robinson	Points: Robinson - 21 Rebounds: Wallace - 10 Assists: Stackhouse - 7