Raptors-Pistons Preview

By JEFF BARTL
Posted Nov 22 2012 10:32PM

The Detroit Pistons hoped they were turning things around after a surprisingly convincing win last weekend, but they weren't nearly as good their last time out.

Facing another struggling team may help them get back on track.

Detroit seeks its sixth victory in the last seven meetings with the visiting Toronto Raptors on Friday night.

The Pistons (2-10) lost nine of their first 10 games before routing Boston 103-83 on Sunday behind a solid performance from Greg Monroe. They couldn't carry over that momentum, though, shooting a season-low 32.9 percent in a 90-74 loss to Orlando on Wednesday.

Detroit held a three-point edge at halftime, but allowed Orlando to open the third on a 21-0 run and ended up scoring eight points and shooting 2 of 21 in the quarter.

"I wish I could explain it to you," coach Lawrence Frank said. "I didn't like the way we played there and then to open the third quarter was embarrassing."

Monroe scored a game-high 19 points and is averaging 20.3 on 58.0 percent shooting with 11.5 rebounds over his last four games. Rodney Stuckey added 13 points off the bench for the Pistons, who joined winless Washington as the only teams with 10 defeats.

"I think we lost our focus and what we need to do to win games," Monroe said. "The things that have happened these last couple of games is on us."

Frank couldn't come close to finding a suitable lineup in the second half and may consider some changes going forward.

"You're constantly trying to find different answers, putting guys in there to see if they can bring something different to the game," Frank told the team's official website. "There were a ton of changes (Wednesday). Don't get caught up in the semantics of who's starting. You're looking to see anyone who could bring what you thought the game needed."

Toronto (3-9) hasn't been much better, though the league did admit to a missed call in the closing seconds of Wednesday's 98-97 loss at Charlotte that could've changed the outcome.

Replays showed Andrea Bargnani was fouled attempting a jumper with 2.4 seconds left and should have been awarded two free throws, but the referees did not make a call and time expired.

Bargnani scored a game-high 25 points in the team's second straight defeat.

"These guys played their heart out and they are hurt right now," coach Dwane Casey said. "We have to create some breaks for ourselves. I thought we shot ourselves in the foot with some mental mistakes that we made as far as turnovers are concerned."

Kyle Lowry, who added 21 points and eight assists in his second game back - and first start - since missing six games with a sprained ankle, said Toronto is capable of playing much better.

"It's very frustrating. We're working so hard," Lowry said. "But we've got to get better. Our 3-9 record doesn't show how good of a team we are. We're better than 3-9."

The Raptors haven't been very good recently against the Pistons, dropping five of the last six matchups after 17 rebounds from Monroe helped Detroit win 76-73 in the most recent meeting April 22.

Knight lifts Pistons past Raptors

Posted Nov 23 2012 11:38PM

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Two of Detroit's youngest players grew up a little Friday night, and it was enough to lift the Pistons to their second straight home victory.

Brandon Knight converted a layup with 7.8 seconds left, rookie Andre Drummond had his first career double-double and Detroit edged the Toronto Raptors 91-90 on Friday night.

The final play wasn't designed to go to Knight but the second-year guard took the ball from Tayshaun Prince and found a seam in the defense to score the winning basket.

"The play wasn't set up for me to get him the ball but he was patient enough to relax and make a play out of it," Prince said.

Kyle Lowry missed a 20-footer at the buzzer for Toronto.

Greg Monroe had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who looked sharp in crunch time two days after falling flat in the second half at Orlando. Knight and Prince scored 16 apiece.

"With such a young group, I liked the way we composed ourselves," coach Lawrence Frank said. "We're happy with the poise our guys showed down the stretch."

Drummond played nearly the entire fourth quarter and had six of his eight offensive rebounds in the final period. He finished with 13 points and 13 boards.

"Andre was huge," Frank said. "All this is new to him so it's interesting to see how he's going to react."

Drummond played a season-high 24 minutes and led the Pistons to a 15-9 edge on the offensive glass. He also helped defend Andrea Bargnani late in the game.

"Not just because it was a key moment, but it's just good being out on the floor trying to help the team win," Drummond said.

Bargnani scored a season-best 34 points and Lowry added 19 for the Raptors, who have dropped three in a row.

"It looks like the last play was the reason and it was not," Toronto coach Dwayne Casey said. "It was the 15 offensive boards."

The Pistons led 47-43 at halftime and increased their advantage to as many as 13 points after a 16-5 run early in the third quarter.

Lowry scored eight points during a 10-0 spurt that helped the Raptors close to 72-68 by the end of the period, and Toronto moved in front in the fourth by scoring eight consecutive points during one stretch.

Detroit made just two of its first 14 field-goal tries in the final period but never fell behind by more than five. It trailed 90-87 with less than a minute left but Prince made a hook shot to cut the deficit to a point and set the stage for Knight's big play.

NOTES: Toronto C Jonas Valanciunas appeared to turn his left ankle midway through the third quarter but returned a few minutes later. ... Members of Divine Providence Lithuanian Catholic parish in suburban Southfield reserved two sections of seats and turned out in the colors of the nation's flag to root on countrymen Valanciunas and Linas Kleiza of the Raptors.

Notebook: Pistons 91, Raptors 90

Dana Gauruder, For NBA.com
Posted Fri Nov 23, 2012 11:38 PM - Updated Fri Nov 23, 2012 11:38 PM

THE FACTS: Detroit point guard Brandon Knight made a layup with 7.8 seconds remaining as the Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors 91-90 Friday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Greg Monroe had a team-high 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Pistons, who squandered a 13-point lead, rallied from a late five-point deficit. Knight and Tayshaun Prince added 16 points apiece. Andrea Bargnani had a season-high 34 points for the Raptors, who lost their third straight.

QUOTABLE: "The thing about Brandon is he's not afraid. He'll put himself out there. Sometimes it works for us and sometimes it doesn't work out, but he's not afraid, I'll tell you that much."

-- Detroit coach Lawrence Frank

THE STAT: 52-26. The Pistons (3-10) dominated inside the lane, doubling the Raptors (3-10) with 52 points in the paint compared to 26 for the visitors. Detroit helped itself with 15 offensive rebounds, including eight by rookie center Andre Drummond. Entering the game, the Pistons were being outscored by an average of 45.7-44.5 in the lane.

TURNING POINT: Bargnani gave the Raptors a five-point lead on a 3-pointer with 4:31 remaining and a three-point advantage with another 3 with 1:21 left, but Detroit refused to fold. Prince hit a pair of hook shots in the late-going before Knight's go-ahead basket, and Knight forced Kyle Lowry into two off-balance misses.

QUOTABLE II: "I saw a lot from [Drummond]. The most important thing is, when he made mistakes and missed free throws, he stayed the course. He didn't put his head down and, obviously, it was tough for them to keep him off the offensive glass. His energy kept the crowd in the game and that's what we need from him."

-- Tayshaun Prince on Andre Drummond's big night

HOT: Drummond recorded his first double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Four of those points and nine of the rebounds came in the fourth quarter. He played all but 42 seconds of the final quarter, as Frank stuck with the hot hand. His rebound total was five more than his previous best.

NOT: Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas had a large rooting section in the lower bowl, but he scored just two of his nine points after halftime. Valanciunas, coming off back-to-back double-doubles, injured his left leg in the second half and had trouble pushing off it. Valanciunas only grabbed six rebounds and committed four second-half fouls.

ROOKIE WATCH: Raptors guard Terrence Ross had a rough night, missing all five of his shots while going scoreless. Detroit guard Kyle Singler was held to six points and one rebound in 29 minutes.

NOTABLE: Monroe has grabbed five or more rebounds in 104 consecutive games, the league's longest current streak. ... Detroit has won 15 of its last 18 home games against Toronto. ... The Pistons were 0-7 against teams under .500 entering the game. ... Bargnani, who had 21 first-half points, surpassed his previous season high by nine points. ... Lowry scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half.

UP NEXT: For the Raptors, Sunday vs. San Antonio, Tuesday @ Houston, Wednesday @ Memphis. For the Pistons, Sunday @ New York, Monday vs. Portland, Wednesday vs. Phoenix.

• Raptors: Anderson, Fields
• Pistons: Kravtsov, Middleton

• Raptors: --
• Pistons: --

• Lead Changes: 7
• Times Tied: 10

• Arena: Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
• Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #18 Matt Boland, #79 Kevin Scott
• Attendance: 12778
• Duration: 2:27