Raptors
Pistons weather 45-point Raptors fourth to escape with 129-125 win
Detroit held off Toronto 129-129... no, 129-125 in a preseason game at Little Caesars Arena, building a 13-point lead after three quarters before the Raptors scored 45 in the fourth. The Pistons shot 58.0% from the field and outscored Toronto 62-38 in the paint. Both teams are 0-0 in preseason, so the result carries no standings weight, but it offered an early look at each roster's depth.
By the Hoops Nightly Desk · updated 3 d ago01The story of the nightA fast break breaks it openDetroit matched Toronto in the first quarter at 33-33, then pulled away.
Detroit matched Toronto in the first quarter at 33-33, then pulled away. The Pistons outscored the Raptors 26-19 in the second and 34-28 in the third, building a 93-80 lead. Toronto answered with 45 points in the fourth, the game's biggest quarter for either side, but Detroit's 36 was enough to hold on, 129-125. Both teams finished with 18 lead changes, a sign of how much the game swung before Detroit's second-half surge decided it.
02Smith and Jackson-Davis carry TorontoMalachi Smith led all scorers with 24 points off the bench, going 8/18 from the field and 4/5 from the line.
Malachi Smith led all scorers with 24 points off the bench, going 8/18 from the field and 4/5 from the line. Trayce Jackson-Davis added 23 on just 4/5 shooting from the field, going 15/16 at the line. Nimari Burnett scored 17 with 2 steals and 2 blocks. For Detroit, Cade Cunningham posted 18 points and 7 assists, Jalen Duren had 14 points, and bench scorer Ebuka Okorie added 14 on 4/4 shooting in only 9.1 minutes.
03Won in the paint and in transitionDetroit shot 58.0% from the field compared to Toronto's 42.9% and outscored the Raptors in the paint 62-38.
Detroit shot 58.0% from the field compared to Toronto's 42.9% and outscored the Raptors in the paint 62-38. The Pistons also dominated fast-break points, 21-9, and out-assisted Toronto 29-20. Toronto tried to answer at the free-throw line, going 39/46 compared to Detroit's 21/32, and had a bigger night on the glass with 54 rebounds to Detroit's 46. Both benches scored heavily — 64 for Detroit, 54 for Toronto — but Detroit's efficiency in the paint and in transition was the difference.
04Turnovers canceled outEach team committed exactly 19 turnovers, and each converted those mistakes into points at a similar rate: Detroit…
Each team committed exactly 19 turnovers, and each converted those mistakes into points at a similar rate: Detroit scored 28 points off turnovers, Toronto scored 25. Toronto got hot from three in the first half en route to an early 7-point lead, finishing 14/37 from deep, while Detroit matched them at 14/34. With turnovers and three-point shooting close to even, the game came down to shot quality inside and Detroit's advantage in transition.
05Preseason, but a look at both rotationsWith no regular-season record on the line, the game served as a rotation test for both sides.
With no regular-season record on the line, the game served as a rotation test for both sides. Toronto leaned on its bench, with Smith, Tyson Degenhart (14 points) and Tyreke Key (13 points) combining for a big night off the pine. Detroit's starters and bench both contributed, with Cunningham and Duren leading starters while Okorie, Ausar Thompson and John Collins chipped in double-digit or near-double-digit scoring nights. Toronto's furious fourth-quarter push, outscoring Detroit 45-36 in the period, is a sign of scoring depth even in a loss.
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