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Pistons host Raptors in possible conference finals preview

Apr 17, 2007 - 3:36 PM Toronto (47-33) at Detroit (51-29) 7:30 pm EDT

AUBURN HILLS, Michigan (Ticker) -- Headed to the playoffs for the first time in five years, the Toronto Raptors can make franchise history.

The Raptors will meet the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday in what could be a possible preview of the Eastern Conference finals.

With a win in one of their final two games, the Raptors will set a franchise record for victories in a season. They are locked into the No. 3 seed in the East playoffs.

Toronto clinched its seed with a 107-105 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday. Chris Bosh led Toronto with 23 points, eight rebounds and a season-high seven assists as the Raptors won their sixth straight.

Detroit has given his key players plenty of rest in losing two straight, including a 102-91 defeat to Philadelphia on Sunday. No starter played more than 26 minutes. Tayshaun Prince scored 15 points in the defeat.

The Raptors claimed an 87-84 victory over the Pistons when the teams met last Friday. Anthony Parker paced the Raptors with 21 points and Bosh recorded 18 points and 16 rebounds.

Toronto rookie Andrea Bargnani, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, has been cleared to play but has been hampered most recently by the flu. The 7-foot forward, who has missed the last 13 games since undergoing an appendectomy on March 21, averaged 11.5 points and 3.9 rebounds prior to his surgery.

The Raptors have dropped seven straight games to Detroit at The Palace of Auburn Hills.