Pistons 101, Toronto 95
Lesson learned! The Pistons refused to give away this lead to the Raptors winning 101-95 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Friday.
Speaking to 97.1 The Ticket, Pistons Assistant Pat Sullivan noted, "You're always pleased when you put together two good halves like we did tonight."
The Pistons jumped out early with 61 points in the first half of play.
Both teams tightened up defense in the second half but it didn't help the Raptors, the lead changed three times and the game was tied seven times but the Pistons held a steady lead throughout the fourth quarter.
Tracy McGrady scored 22, Rodney Stuckey had 19 points.
Charlie Villanueva had 16 points and eight rebounds while rookie Greg Monroe scored 12 for the Pistons, who had lost five of their last six games. Chris Wilcox had 12 rebounds and four points.
Andrea Bargnani scored 31 points and DeMar DeRozan had 15 for the Raptors, who have lost eight of 10 at home and nine of 12 overall.
Detroit, is now 2-13 in its last 15 away from The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Not wanting to live through a repeat of the implosion that hit the Pistons when Toronto last visited the Palace, when Toronto took the teams' first meeting of the season in record fashion Dec. 11 at The Palace, erasing a 25-point deficit midway through the third quarter and winning 120-116 in the biggest comeback in franchise history.
Detroit faces Sacramento Saturday at the Palace in Auburn Hills.
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