FINAL SCORE: DETROIT PISTONS 108, TORONTO RAPTORS 106
DATE: THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022 ATTENDACE: 19,548
FINAL SCORE
RECORD
HIGH POINTS
HIGH REBOUNDS
HIGH ASSISTS
Detroit
108
16-47
Grant – 26
Cunningham – 12
Joseph – 6
Toronto
106
34-28
Siakam – 28
Boucher/Barnes – 10
Trent Jr. – 4
KEY RUN
The Pistons began the third quarter on a 26-11 run to open an 18-point lead (86-68), their largest lead of the game, at the 4:09 mark … Detroit led for the entire second half … The Raptors cut the deficit to just one with 37 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, but Detroit held Toronto scoreless over the final two possessions to preserve the win … The Pistons improve to a perfect 5-0 when the game is decided by two points or less.
KEY STAT
Detroit recorded 25 assists compared to just 12 for Toronto … The Pistons improve to 13-3 when dishing out more assists than their opponents.
RAPTORS NOTES:
With the loss, Toronto falls to 34-28 this season and 17-14 at home … Toronto will complete a three-game homestand (Mar. 1-4) Friday night against Orlando.
Scottie Barnes recorded 21 points (7-13 FG, 1-3 3PT, 6-8 FT), 10 rebounds and two assists in 40 minutes … Barnes has now recorded three consecutive double-doubles (Feb. 28 – Mar. 3), marking the first time a Raptors rookie has done so since Charlie Villanueva (Feb. 27 – Mar. 4, 2006) … Barnes has totaled eight double-doubles this season, including five double-doubles where he has scored 20+ points, the most among rookies this year … In five games since the All-star break, Barnes is averaging 20.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and shooting .683 (43-63) from the field.
Pascal Siakam scored a game-high 28 points, and added five rebounds in 43 minutes … Siakam leads the Raptors having scored 25+ points 17 times this year, and Toronto is 11-6 in these games.
Precious Achiuwa tallied 18 points and seven rebounds in 28 minutes off the bench … Achiuwa has now tallied 15-or-more points in six times this season, something he did just twice in 61 games last year … Achiuwa has led the bench in scoring 12 times this season, including in five of the last six games (Feb. 16 – Mar. 3).
PISTONS NOTES:
With the win, Detroit is now 16-47, including 7-26 on the road … The Pistons have now won six consecutive games against the Raptors, including three straight on the road … Detroit finishes its three-game road trip (Feb. 27 – Mar. 3) at 2-1, andwill return home to play Indiana tomorrow night.
Jerami Grant scored a team-high 26 points and added four assists and three rebounds in 35 minutes … Grant has now scored 20+ points in three consecutive games (Feb. 27 – Mar. 3), averaging 26.0 points and shooting .560 (28-50) from the field, including .450 (9-20) from beyond the arc, during this stretch.
Cade Cunningham finished with 22 points, a season high-tying 12 rebounds and five assists in 38 minutes … Cunningham has now totaled two games of 20/10/5 this year, becoming the first Pistons rookie since Grant Hill in 1994-95 to recorded that stat line in multiple games in the same season … Cunningham dished out his 250th career assist tonight, becoming the seventh rookie in franchise history to reach the milestone … Cunningham (49 games) is the second fastest Pistons rookie to reach 250 assists, trailing only Isiah Thomas (32 games).
Saddiq Bey recorded 23 points, six rebounds and three assists in 38 minutes … Bey has now scored 20+ points 27 times this season, something he did 12 times in 70 games last year.
GAME #62 – TORONTO RAPTORS (34-27) vs. DETROIT PISTONS (15-47) THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2022 – 7:30 P.M. (ET) – SCOTIABANK ARENA TV: TSN – RADIO: TSN 1050 TORONT
• The Toronto Raptors (34-27) continue a three-game homestand (Mar. 1-4) Thursday night when they host the Detroit Pistons (15-47) at Scotiabank Arena. Tonight marks the third and final meeting between these two teams this season, with Detroit winning the first two. Toronto is currently in the middle of a stretch that will see the team play six games in eight days (Feb. 25 – Mar. 4) for the first time since March 10-17, 2012. • The Raptors recorded their second consecutive victory defeating the Brooklyn Nets 109-108 on Tuesday night. Trailing by eight points (89-81) entering the final frame, Tuesday marked Toronto’s largest fourth quarter comeback of the season. Gary Trent Jr. scored a game-high 24 points, including 12 in the fourth. Trent Jr. went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final frame, and becomes the first Raptor since Kawhi Leonard (8-8 FT, Dec. 30, 2018 vs. Chicago) to shoot perfect from the free throw line in the fourth quarter with a minimum of eight attempts. Trent Jr. also matched a career best with seven assists. • Scottie Barnes finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists in 41 minutes Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn. Barnes has now recorded consecutive double-doubles (Feb. 28 – Mar. 1) for the first time in his career, and has posted seven total this season, the most by a Raptors rookie since Jonas Valanciunas had eight during the 2012-13 campaign. In four games since the All-star break, Barnes is averaging 20.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and shooting .720 (36-50) from the field. • Toronto outrebounded Brooklyn 48-37, including 16-to-7 on the offensive glass, in Tuesday’s victory. The Raptors currently rank second in the NBA in offensive rebounds (13.1). Scottie Barnes leads the Raptors and all rookies – with 134 offensive boards this season. Barnes ranks fourth all-time among Raptors rookies in offensive rebounds – behind Chris Bosh (191), Charlie Villanueva (181), and Ed Davis (168). • Pascal Siakam is currently averaging 21.1 points, and career bests of 8.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists, in 48 games. Siakam is one of just seven players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, James Harden, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, and Dejounte Murray. No Raptor has averaged 20-8-5 over the course of an entire season. • Fred VanVleet (200) and Gary Trent Jr. (179) currently rank second and fifth respectively, in the NBA in deflections. VanVleet has led the league in deflections in each of the last two seasons, while Trent Jr. ranks second in the NBA in steals (1.88). Trent Jr. has recorded 5+ steals in six games this season, only two Raptors have tallied more games with 5+ steals in a single season – Doug Christie (8) in 1996-97 and Alvin Robertson (7) in 1995-96. Toronto leads the NBA in deflections (17.9) and ranks third in steals (9.2). • Thaddeus Young has scored in double-digits in three straight games (Feb. 26 – Mar. 1), averaging 10.7 points in 20.0 minutes off the bench. Young was acquired from San Antonio at the trade deadline. PROBABLE STARTERS F – SCOTTIE BARNES #4 • Finished with 18 points, a team-high 10 rebounds and four assists in 41 minutes Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn. • Leads all rookies in minutes (35.2), ranks third in rebounds (7.5), fourth in points (14.8), and fifth in assists (3.3). • Tied with Charlie Villanueva (2005-06) for fourth all-time among Raptors rookies with 12 games of 20+ points. F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43 • Recorded 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes Tuesday against the Nets. • Averaged 21.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and shot .498 (102-205) from the field during 12 games in February. • Leads the Raptors with a career-best 19 double-doubles this season. C – KHEM BIRCH #24 • Contributed 11 points, five rebounds and one block in 18 minutes Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn. • Averaging 5.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and shooting .538 (28-52) from the field in 12 games as a starter. • Has scored in double figures four times this season (Last: 11 – Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn). G – GARY TRENT JR. #33 • Scored a team-high 24 points, and matched a career-best with seven assists Tuesday night against the Nets. • Has scored 20+ points in 21-of-52 games this season, something he did 15 times in 58 contests last year. • Ranks second in the NBA in steals per game (1.88) and fifth in total deflections (179). G – MALACHI FLYNN #22 • Tallied 15 points, a season-best eight assists, and six rebounds in a season-high 43 minutes Mar. 1 vs. Brooklyn. • Has dished out 5+ assists in three of the last four games (Feb. 25 – Mar. 1), totalling 18 assists. • Averaging 13.0 points, 5.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 36.2 minutes in three starts. INJURY REPORT OG Anunoby (Right Ring Finger; Fracture) – Out Fred VanVleet (Right Knee; Soreness) – Questionable D.J. Wilson (Left Knee; Soreness) – Out Thaddeus Young (Illness; Non-COVID) – Questionable
Jayson Tatum, maybe only half-joking, noted Friday that he should text NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to make a case for his All-Star snubbed teammate, Jaylen Brown. 814 more words
RAPTORS NOTES • The Toronto Raptors (20-18) begin a five-game road trip (Jan. 14-21) Friday night against the Detroit Pistons (9-31) at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons beat the Raptors 127-121 in their first meeting this season Nov. 13 in Toronto. The Raptors will play eight of their next 10 games on the road (Jan. 14-31). Toronto had its season-high six-game win streak end Tuesday with 99-95 loss to Phoenix. OG Anunoby scored 25 points, Pascal Siakam had 22 and Fred VanVleet added 21 against the Suns. •Fred VanVleet has made at least four three-pointers in a franchise record nine consecutive games (Dec. 14 – Jan 11) – the longest streak in the NBA this season. VanVleet is averaging 29.6 points and shooting .451 (51-113) from beyond the arc over his last nine games. Only Stephen Curry and James Harden have longer streaks in NBA history. • Pascal Siakam is averaging 20.7 points and career highs of 8.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists. Siakam is one of just six players in the NBA averaging 20.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists this season, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, James Harden and Nikola Jokic. • Toronto grabbed a season-high 22 offensive rebounds Tuesday vs. Phoenix. Chris Boucher had a career high-tying nine offensive boards, while rookie Justin Champagnie collected five. The Raptors (13.4) are currently tied with Memphis for the NBA lead in offensive rebounds per game and rank second (16.8) in second-chance points per game – behind only the Grizzlies (17.7). Through six games in January, the Raptors have outrebounded opponents 93-to-57 (+36) on the offensive glass. • Chris Boucher recorded his third double-double of the season with 13 points and a team-high 16 rebounds in 37 minutes off the bench Tuesday against the Suns. He also blocked a season-high three shots. Boucher has now collected 15+ rebounds five times in his career, including three times off the bench – second most in franchise history behind Reggie Evans who had 15+ rebounds four times as a reserve. • Fred VanVleet was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week (Jan. 3-9) for the first time in his career after leading the Raptors to a perfect 4-0 record, averaging 30.3 points (sixth in the NBA), 6.5 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 36.5 minutes. He shot .467 (42-90) from the field, .453 (24-53) from three-point range and was 13-for-13 at the free throw line. VanVleet scored 30+ points three times and recorded his first career triple-double with a season-best 37 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists Jan. 7 vs. Utah. His 37 points was the most scored in a triple-double in franchise history. • Fred VanVleet (138) and Gary Trent Jr. (117) currently rank second and fourth, respectively, in the NBA in total deflections. VanVleet has led the NBA in deflections per game each of the past two seasons, while Trent Jr. is also tied for fourth in the league in steals per game (1.91) and has recorded multiple steals in 20 games. The Raptors lead the NBA in deflections per game (18.7) and rank third in steals (9.3). PROBABLE STARTERS F – YUTA WATANABE #18
MIN: 20.1 REB: 4.1 AST: 1.0 STL: 0.5 TO: 0.8 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 7.1 • Recorded one rebound and one steal in 15 minutes Jan. 11 vs. Phoenix. • Averaging 12.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 27.9 minutes in three games as a starter this season. • Has scored in double figures five times, including 20+ points once, and recorded one double-double. F – PASCAL SIAKAM #43
MIN: 35.7 REB: 8.3 AST: 4.6 STL: 1.0 TO: 2.5 BLK: 0.8 PTS: 20.7 • Recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and three steals in 39 minutes Jan. 11 vs. Phoenix. • Passed Jose Calderon (5,234) for eighth on the Raptors’ all-time scoring list (5,255) against the Suns. • Has recorded 5+ assists in a career-high eight straight games (Dec. 28 – Jan. 11); averaging 6.5 assists. C – KHEM BIRCH #24
MIN: 21.8 REB: 5.4 AST: 1.3 STL: 0.9 TO: 0.7 BLK: 0.5 PTS: 6.0 • Contributed six points, six rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes Jan. 11 vs. Phoenix. • Has missed 14 games (Nov. 7-11, Nov. 24 – Dec. 18) this season with right knee swelling. • Averaging 8.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 22.6 minutes in six games as a starter. G – OG ANUNOBY #3
MIN: 36.0 REB: 5.1 AST: 2.3 STL: 1.6 TO: 1.6 BLK: 0.4 PTS: 19.3 • Scored a game-high 25 points in 39 minutes of action Jan. 11 vs. Phoenix; added two rebounds. • Has scored in double figures in seven straight games, averaging 19.3 points during this stretch. • Has scored 20+ points in 12-of-23 games this season, something he did 13 times in 43 contests last year. G – FRED VANVLEET #23
MIN: 37.7 REB: 4.9 AST: 6.6 STL: 1.7 TO: 2.7 BLK: 0.6 PTS: 22.0 • Finished with 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals in 44 minutes Jan. 11 vs. Phoenix. • Reached 1,500 career assists against the Suns, becoming just the seventh Raptor to reach this milestone. • Leads the NBA in minutes per game (37.7), has logged 40+ minutes eight times.
INJURY REPORT Goran Dragic (NWT) – Out Scottie Barnes (Right Knee; Soreness) – Questionable Gary Trent Jr. (Left Ankle; Swelling) – Questionable
2021-22 RECORDS W-L EAST WEST OVERALL 20-18 12-11 8-7 HOME 12-11 6-7 6-4 AWAY 8-7 6-4 2-3 OVERTIME 0-1 0-1 0-0
Opponent: Detroit Pistons Date: Friday, January 14 Tip-Off: 7 p.m. (ET) Venue: Little Caesars Arena Television: TSN Radio: TSN 1050 Toronto SERIES RECAP VS. DETROIT OVERALL HOME ROAD 2021-22 0-1 0-1 0-0 ALL-TIME 38-58 19-27 19-31 STREAKS Lost 4 Lost 2 Lost 2 LAST WIN: Jan. 31, 2020 (105-92) LAST ROAD WIN: Jan. 31, 2020 (105-92) LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +30 (Dec 23, 2009) LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -44 (Jan. 4, 1997) LAST TIME VS. DETROIT GAME 14 – NOVEMBER 13, 2021 DETROIT 127, TORONTO 121 TORONTO — Jerami Grant scored 24 points, including two key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and Detroit beat Toronto 127-121, handing the Raptors their fourth loss in five games … Isaiah Stewart added 20 for the Pistons, who’ve beaten Toronto in their last four meetings … Pascal Siakam had 25 points and 12 rebounds in his third game back since missing the beginning of the season recovering from shoulder surgery … Gary Trent Jr. had 23 points while OG Anunoby had 17 … Goran Dragic added 16, Dalano Banton finished with 12 and Scottie Barnes had 11 … Neither team led by double digits through the first three quarters of the back-and-forth affair … Toronto took a 95-93 lead into the fourth … But the Raptors fizzled in the fourth quarter, as Detroit hit five consecutive three-pointers – two by Grant – that put the Pistons up 117-106 … The Raptors scored five straight points to pull to within six … Siakam converted a three-point play with 2:04 to play to slice the difference to just three … But Cade Cunningham shimmied to the hoop to make it a five-point game heading into the final minute … The Raptors missed four shots on their next possession, which all but ensured the loss … The Raptors were missing starting guard Fred VanVleet (groin strain) and Precious Achiuwa (sore shoulder). 1 2 3 4 TOT DETROIT 31 34 28 34 127 TORONTO 34 30 31 26 12
UPDATED: Jan. 13, 2022 NEXT GAME DETAILS Opponent: Milwaukee BucksDate: Saturday, January 15 Tip-Off: 6:30 p.m. (ET) Venue: Fiserv Forum Television: TSN Radio: Sportsnet 590 The FAN SERIES RECAP VS. MILWAUKEE OVERALL HOME ROAD 2021-22 2-0 1-0 1-0 ALL-TIME 43-54 21-27 22-27 STREAKS Won 4 Won 1 Won 4 LAST WIN: Jan. 5, 2022 (117-111) LAST ROAD WIN: Jan. 5, 2022 (117-111) LARGEST MARGIN OF VICTORY: +42 (Nov. 21, 2014) LARGEST MARGIN OF DEFEAT: -27 (Nov. 6, 2007) LAST TIME VS. MILWAUKEE GAME 35 – JANUARY 5, 2022 TORONTO 117, MILWAUKEE 111 MILWAUKEE — Pascal Siakam scored 33 points, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. had 22 apiece and the Toronto Raptors beat the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks 117-111 … Fred VanVleet added 19 points for the Raptors … They improved to 18-17 and overcame Milwaukee’s hot-shooting first half and late rally … The defending NBA champion Bucks were without coach Mike Budenholzer after he entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols … Milwaukee played without NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo because of an illness unrelated to COVID-19 … Grayson Allen, George Hill and Pat Connaughton also entered protocols Wednesday … Khris Middleton led the Bucks with 25 points … Jordan Nwora had 17 and Jrue Holiday and DeMarcus Cousins each had 15 … Milwaukee connected on 61% of its shots to take a 77-68 at the half, tying the most points it has scored in the first half this season … The 77 points marked the most Toronto has surrendered in any half this season … The previous high was 72 in both halves of a 144-99 loss at Cleveland on Dec. 26 … Toronto erased a 14-point deficit and tied it at 85 midway through the third … The Raptors built a 15-point lead in the fourth, but the Bucks pulled within four points twice in the final minute. 1 2 3 4 TOT TORONTO 35 33 24 25 117 MILWAUKEE 42 35 11 23 111
DEROIT PISTONS
PROBABLE STARTERS PLAYER / 2021-22 REGULAR SEASON AVERAGES NOTES
6 Hamidou Diallo
F • 6-5 • 202 • Kentucky/USA • 4th Season GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG 33/16 10.5 4.5 1.4 1.3 0.4 21.9 LAST GAME: Seven points, seven rebounds, one assist, two steals in 18 minutes at CHI (1/11)…Scored 10+ pts in 14 of last 17 games…Leads NBA in steals (31) since Dec. 18. NOTES: Became 1st player in NBA history with at least 30 pts/10 rebs/4 asts/5 stls in back-to-back games and 11th Piston with consecutive 30 pt/10 reb games (12/29-1/1)…10+ pts in 7-straight games (12/19-1/3).
41 Saddiq Bey
F • 6-8 • 215 • Villanova/USA • 2nd Season GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG 40/40 15.2 6.3 2.5 0.9 0.2 33.8 LAST GAME: 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, one block in 37 minutes at CHI (1/11). NOTES: 20+ pts in nine of last 14 games; career-long fivestraight (12/23-1/3)…Career-high 34 points (8 3FGM) at MIL (1/3)…5th all-time in 3FGM (268) through 110 career games.
28 Isaiah Stewart
C • 6-9 • 250 • Washington/USA • 2nd Season GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG 32/32 7.8 8.3 1.1 0.4 1.3 25.6 LAST GAME: 11 points (4-8 FG), seven rebounds, two assists, four blocks in 28 minutes at CHI (1/11)…4th-straight game with multiple blocks and 4th game with 3+ blocks in 2021-22. NOTES: NOTES: 10 games with 10+ rebs…11 games with 2+ blks this season…Leads team in rebounds and blocks.
2 Cade Cunningham
G • 6-6 • 217 • Oklahoma State/USA • Rookie GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG 31/31 15.4 5.7 5.4 1.3 0.6 32.4 LAST GAME: Eight points, seven rebounds, three assists, one steal in 29 minutes at CHI (1/11)…Averaging 6.4 apg over last nine games (12/18-1/11). NOTES: Led team in passing 17 times; 8 of last 9 games he has played (12/18-1/10)…Youngest Piston (20 yrs, 57 days) ever with triple-double and 9th youngest in NBA history (vs. LAL, 11/21)…5 double-doubles, 1 triple-double in 2020-21.
7 Killian Hayes
G • 6-5 • 216 • ratiopharm Ulm (Germany)/France • 2nd Season GP/GS PPG RPG APG SPG BPG MPG 30/30 6.3 3.0 3.7 1.2 0.4 26.0 LAST GAME: Eight points, three rebounds, team-high five assists, four steals in 33 minutes at CHI (1/11). NOTES: Tied for third on team in steals (37)…Has led team in passing nine times in 2021-22…Joined Isiah Thomas as only Pistons with at least three games of five+ steals over first 36 career games at CLE (11/12).
2021-22 REGULAR SEASON PISTONS RECORDS RECORD HOME ROAD OT OVERALL 9-31 6-13 3-18 1-1 WESTERN 3-12 2-5 1-7 1-0 EASTERN 6-19 4-8 2-11 0-1 CENTRAL 2-7 1-2 1-5 — STREAKS OVERALL Lost 1 HOME Won 3 ROAD Lost 3 INJURY/STATUS REPORT Jerami Grant (Right Thumb Sprain), Frank Jackson (Return to Competition Reconditioning), Isaiah Livers (Right Foot Soreness), Kelly Olynyk (Left Knee Sprain) and Chris Smith (G League – Two-Way) are OUT
TEAM NOTES FROM 2021-22 SECOND HALF COMEBACK: The Pistons defeated Utah, 126-116, on Jan. 10 after trailing by 22 points in the second quarter. Detroit’s comeback against the Jazz tied the team’s second largest comeback since 1996-97, but also set several other franchise records thanks to the Pistons second half heroics:
Set a new franchise record for threes in a half with their 15 made triples in the final two quarters.
Detroit’s 78 points scored in the second half marks the highest scoring total the Pistons have recorded in any half since 1996-97 (when play-by-play data was first recorded) (via Basketball Reference).
Recorded the fourth win in the first 10 days of the new year, their most wins in the first 10 days of a new year since 2014-15 (five wins). HITTING THE TRIFECTA: The Pistons had three players record 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds vs. San Antonio on Jan. 1, marking the third time in the last 50 years that the Pistons have had three or more players with 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds in a game. Hamidou Diallo (34 points and 14 rebounds), Saddiq Bey (21 points and 17 rebounds) and Luka Garza (20 points and 14 rebounds) accomplished the feat. The trio also became the first group of players in the NBA to score 20-plus points and grab 14-or-more rebounds in a game in over 40 years. DYNAMIC DUO: Cade Cunningham (11 assists) and Killian Hayes (10 assists) both recorded double-digit assists Dec. 18 vs. Houston, making them the first duo in NBA history with 10-plus assists in the same game at the age of 20 or younger (via Elias Sports Bureau). THREE FROM THREE: Three current Pistons (Cade Cunningham, Jerami Grant, Saddiq Bey) rank within the top five in franchise history for three-point field goals made per game. Below are the top five averages in Pistons history (via Basketball Reference): PISTONS PLAYERS WITH MOST 3FGM PER GAME PLAYER 3FGM/GM GAMES Wayne Ellington 2.7 74 Saddiq Bey 2.4 110 Cade Cunningham 2.2 31 Blake Griffin 2.2 138 Jerami Grant 2.0 78 CAUSING TURNOVERS: The Pistons are third in the NBA in forced turnovers per-game (15.7), trailing only the Minnesota Timberwolves (17.0) and Toronto Raptors (16.3) for tops in the league. The Pistons have forced more turnovers than they have turned the ball over in 18 of their 40 games so far this season. STEALS GALORE: The Pistons are eighth in the NBA in steals this season (8.3 spg). Below are the top eight teams in steals in the NBA through Jan. 14: 2021-22 STEALS RANKINGS TEAM SPG Memphis 10.2 Golden State 9.6 Toronto 9.3 Charlotte 9.0 Phoenix 8.8 Minnesota 8.7 L.A. Lakers 8.3 Detroit 8.3 FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH: As of Jan. 6, the Pistons have the fourth-youngest roster by average age in the NBA. YOUNGEST NBA ROSTERS – AVERAGE AGE TEAM AGE Oklahoma City 24 years, 4 days Memphis 24 years, 95 days Toronto 24 years, 281 days Detroit 24 years, 285 days PISTONS IN 2021-22: The Pistons return 10 players from its final 2020-21 roster to go along with five rookie additions (Cade Cunningham, Luka Garza, Isaiah Livers, Jamorko Pickett, Chris Smith) and two free agents (Kelly Olynyk and Trey Lyles). Detroit doesn’t have any players still on the roster from the 2019-20 season. CROSSING BORDERS: The Pistons roster three Canadian-born players (Cory Joseph, Trey Lyles, Kelly Olynyk), marking the most players from Canada on any NBA roster as of Jan. 14
DETROIT (AP) — Shea Gilgeous-Alexander had 30 points and 13 assists, Luguentz Dort scored 28 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder rallied past the Detroit Pistons 114-103 Monday night in a battle of teams that entered with eight-game losing streaks.
James admitted he was upset about the decision but with the Lakers mired in a losing stretch and staring down a possible 1-4 road trip, he knew there wasn’t much time to stew about it.
James is suspended for “recklessly hitting” Stewart in the face during their altercation in Sunday’s game, the league announced on Monday. Stewart gets two games for repeatedly charging at James.
FINAL SCORE: DETROIT PISTONS 127, TORONTO RAPTORS 121
DATE: NOVEMBER 13, 2021 ATTENDANCE: 19,800 (Sellout)
FINAL SCORE
RECORD
HIGH POINTS
HIGH REBOUNDS
HIGH ASSISTS
Detroit
127
3-9
Grant – 24
Bey – 8
Hayes – 10
Toronto
121
7-7
Siakam – 25
Siakam – 12
Siakam – 7
KEY RUN
Detroit entered the fourth quarter down two points (95-93) but started the quarter on a 21-8 run and took its largest lead of the game (114-103) at the 6:03 mark … The Pistons shot 11-for-19 (.579) in the final frame and outscored the Raptors 34-26 … Jerami Grant scored 14 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter.
KEY STAT
The Pistons recorded season highs of 127 points and 34 assists in the win … Detroit’s bench, led by Josh Jackson (15) and Frank Jackson (14), outscored Toronto’s bench 44-29 … The Pistons entered tonight ranked fourth in the NBA in bench scoring (40.4 ppg).
RAPTORS NOTES:
With the loss, Toronto falls to 7-7 this season and 2-6 at home … The Raptors will begin a season long-tying six-game road trip (Nov. 15-26) Monday against the Portland Trail Blazers … Toronto is 5-1 away from home and started the season 4-0 on the road for the first time in franchise history.
Pascal Siakam recorded season highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the year … Siakam sat out Toronto’s game Nov. 11 in Philadelphia for left shoulder injury management and missed the first 10 games (Oct. 20 – Nov. 5) recovering from shoulder surgery he had in June.
Gary Trent Jr. tallied 23 points in the loss … Trent Jr. tied a season high with four three-pointers and shot 8-for-16 from the field … He has recorded 20+ points four times this year.
Dalano Banton scored a career-high 12 points in 19 minutes off the bench … Banton shot 4-for-6 from the field and led the Raptors bench in scoring for the fourth time this season … He entered tonight ranked first in field goal percentage among rookies (.531).
PISTONS NOTES:
With the win Detroit improves to 3-9, including 2-5 on the road … Tonight’s victory marked the Pistons’ fourth-straight win over the Raptors … Detroit will return home to play the Sacramento Kings on Monday.
Isaiah Stewart tied a career high with 20 points and added two blocks in the win … Stewart shot 9-for-11 from the field and recorded multiple blocks for the fifth time this season.
Jerami Grant scored 24 points on 8-for-16 shooting and grabbed five rebounds tonight … This is the sixth time Grant has scored 20+ points this year.
Killian Hayes recorded 13 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds for his first career double-double … Hayes’ fell just one assist shy of matching his career high of 11 that he recorded Apr. 29, 2021 vs. Dallas.
The view from left field 