It was a time to simply take care of business.
No muss. No fuss. Nothing overly dramatic. Get ahead and stay ahead, beat a weak opponent soundly and escape with bodies intact and minds not unnecessarily taxed.
And the Raptors actually played to the desired script.
A wire-to-wire pasting of the shell of the Detroit Pistons — 118-97 at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night — was a rare chance to exhale for the Raptors as they chase a spot in the NBA post-season play-in tournament.
Pascal Siakam had 32 points, Fred VanVleet 18 and O.