|
 The Raptors clinched the Atlantic Division championship for first
time in seven years on Friday. Behind the guard tandem of DeMar
DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, they tied the franchise record for victories
on Sunday.
DeRozan poured in 30 points and Lowry scored 28 before fouling out
in a 116-107 win over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday afternoon at The
Palace.
Toronto (47-33), which also won 47 games in 2000-01 and 2006-07, can
set a new record with a victory over Milwaukee on Monday or a win at
New York on Wednesday.
"It definitely means a lot," DeRozan said. "If you really sit down
and look at it, that's big, to be tied with the franchise record and
have a chance to break it. We've come a long way. A lot of people
wouldn't have counted us to be in the position we're in now. It's
definitely a credit to our hard work, both the players and the
coaching staff."
The Raptors didn't make it easy on themselves, giving away an
18-point lead and going the last 5:51 without Lowry. But Toronto
scored six unanswered points shortly after Lowry's departure to
build an eight-point lead and the Pistons never got closer than six
the rest of the way.
"Everybody was frustrated with the calls when Kyle fouled out but
we're not going to win by complaining and fussing to get calls,"
DeRozan sid. "You've got to go out there and take it and that's what
we did."
Toronto center Jonas Valanciunas added 18 points for the Raptors,
who have won five of their last six games. The Pistons grabbed 21
offensive rebounds but only converted on six of those opportunities,
which helped the Raptors survive.
"It's timing, grit, anticipation and a lot of those things we did
not have," Toronto coach Dwane Casey said of Detroit's offensive
rebounding. "They basically manhandled us in the paint and we have
to get better than that."
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 Pistons, who had high expectations of a playoff run this season,
finished 17-24 at home.
"We just weren't able to get into a groove earlier on in the year to
gain confidence and know we're a playoff team," Detroit swingman
Kyle Singler said. "I do believe we have the right pieces in place
to be a playoff team."
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.
[to top of second column] |
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.
"We had no rhythm early on and we didn't guard," Pistons interim
coach John Loyer said. "You give a team 42 points in the first
quarter, I don't know what your chance of winning is, but I would
think it's pretty low. There's no excuse for giving up 42 points."
Lowry made two 3-pointers in the final minute of the half to give
the Raptors a 63-49 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.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
