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Raptors 116, Pistons 107

Alan Draper profile picture
Sports Editor
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Shooting guard DeMar DeRozan poured in 30 points and the Toronto Raptors tied a franchise record for victories with a 116-107 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday afternoon at The Palace.

Toronto (47-33), which clinched the Atlantic Division championship for first time in seven years on Friday, also won 47 games in 2000-01 and 2006-07. They can set a new record with a victory over Milwaukee on Monday or a win at New York on Wednesday.

Point guard Kyle Lowry had 28 points and seven assists before fouling out for the Raptors, who have won five of their last six games. Toronto center Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points.

Power forward Greg Monroe led the Pistons (29-52) with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Rodney Stuckey had 18 points, point guard Brandon Jennings chipped in 17 and center Andre Drummond supplied 14 points and 17 rebounds.

The Raptors’ 14-point halftime lead was down to five in the first four minutes of the third quarter after a 12-0 Pistons run. Monroe, who had 13 points and seven rebounds during the quarter, put Detroit on top in the final minute with a layup. Lowry answered with a jumper to give Toronto an 87-86 edge entering the fourth quarter.

DeRozan’s three-point play with 7:12 remaining put the Raptors up 97-95. Lowry committed his sixth foul against Drummond in the backcourt with 5:51 remaining but Toronto kept building its lead. Forward Patrick Patterson’s layup made it 105-97 and the Pistons failed to make another run.

Drummond and Monroe picked up two fouls apiece in the first four minutes and went to the bench the remainder of the first quarter. With the Pistons lacking their two best big men, the Raptors shredded their defense and scored 42 points, a season high for Toronto in any quarter. The Raptors made 14 of 19 field-goal tries and 11 of 13 free throws during the quarter.

DeRozan’s four-point play extended Toronto’s advantage to 18 at 46-28. The Pistons pulled within 10 late in the second quarter but Lowry made two 3-pointers in the final minute to give the Raptors a 63-49 halftime lead.

NOTES: Pistons SF Josh Smith missed his fourth consecutive game with left patella tendinitis. … Toronto SF Landry Fields did not make the trip because of flu-like symptoms. … The Raptors’ previous high for a quarter this season was 38 points. … Detroit C Andre Drummond’s 56 double-doubles ties him with Bill Laimbeer for the second most by a Piston since 1984-85. Isiah Thomas had 65 that season. … Toronto coach Dwane Casey is concerned about his team’s 1-6 overtime record with the postseason approaching. “We’re still trying to develop that closing mentality,” he said. … The Pistons have finished at least five games below .500 at home in three of the last five seasons. … Toronto swept the season series for the first time since the 2009-10 season.

Alan is an expert gambling writer who works as one of the chief editors for Basketball Insiders. He has been covering online gambling and sports betting for over 8 years, having written for the likes of Sportlens, Compare.bet, The Sports Daily, 90min, and TopRatedCasinos.co.uk. His particular specialisms include US online casinos and gambling regulations, and soccer and basketball betting. Based in London, Alan holds an MA in English Literature and is a passionate supporter of Chelsea FC.

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