DeRozan scores 23 as Raptors beat Pistons 97-91

[December 20, 2012]  TORONTO (AP) -- DeMar DeRozan had 23 points, Alan Anderson scored 12 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter and the Toronto Raptors beat the Detroit Pistons 97-91 Wednesday night, extending their winning streak to four games.

Jose Calderon had 17 assists, one shy of his season high, and Jonas Valanciunas scored 12 points for the Raptors, who last won four straight from Nov. 17-24, 2010.

Ed Davis added 11 points and nine rebounds for the Raptors, who had lost six of their previous seven meetings with the Pistons.

As he did in Tuesday's road win at Cleveland, Anderson helped seal it for Toronto with a trio of 3-pointers in the final quarter.

Greg Monroe scored a career-high 35 points to go with 10 rebounds and Rodney Stuckey had 13 for the Pistons, who lost their sixth straight and dropped to 2-13 on the road.

Detroit missed 12 of its 30 free throws, with rookie center Andre Drummond going 2 for 7 and Stuckey hitting only two of his five attempts.

Anderson made one of three from the line to begin the fourth then added a 3-pointer on Toronto's next possession. Just over five minutes later he connected again, making 3-pointers on back-to-back possessions to put the Raptors up 88-77 with 6:25 left.

Monroe scored four points as Detroit cut it to four with a 7-0 run over the next 3:30, but a 3 by Calderon made it 91-84 with 2:29 remaining.

DeRozan scored 10 points and Valanciunas had eight to give the Raptors a 27-23 lead after the first quarter.

Toronto led 49-43 with 1:02 left in the first half but Detroit knotted the score with a 6-0 run, including a tip-in by Kyle Singler at the buzzer, tying it 49-all at intermission.

Monroe had 14 points in the third, while DeRozan had 11 for the Raptors, who took a narrow 74-71 lead into the fourth.

NOTES: Stuckey returned after sitting out Monday's loss to the Clippers with back spasms. ... Detroit recalled G Kim English and F Khris Middleton from Fort Wayne of the NBA Development League. ... Calderon had a season-high 18 assists against Orlando on Nov. 18. His career best is 19, set twice. Calderon assisted on eight of Toronto's first 10 field goals and had nine assists in the first quarter alone. Toronto's record for assists in a single quarter is 11, set by Doug Christie.

[Associated Press; By IAN HARRISON]

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