The Toronto Raptors nearly suffered one other late-game collapse. But this time, they weathered the storm.
Fred VanVleet had a game-high 35 factors and eight assists because the Toronto Raptors survived a late comeback effort from Detroit to take a 119-118 victory over the Pistons on Sunday. Detroit outscored Toronto 23-11 within the remaining 3:27 of the sport after being down 13.
“I believed we hung robust. We performed an excellent group, they have plenty of expertise,” mentioned Raptors assistant coach Adrian Griffin, who labored the bench instead of head coach Nick Nurse.
“Even within the first half once we have been up a degree you may really feel the stress within the constructing like we’re purported to be up 20. This is the NBA, each win and each recreation is gonna be exhausting fought and difficult and I believed our guys have been resilient.”
It was VanVleet’s ninth 30-point recreation of the season, setting a profession mark. His earlier excessive was eight in 2021-22.
Pascal Siakam added 28 factors, together with 11 within the fourth quarter, for Toronto (27-31). Scottie Barnes scored 20.
Jakob Poeltl had six factors and 5 rebounds in 25 minutes of motion in his first begin since being traded to the Raptors on Thursday. He fouled out of the sport with 2:32 remaining.
“I believed he bought higher as the sport went on,” VanVleet mentioned of Poeltl. “He’s bought a really excessive IQ and he is such a sensible participant, so undoubtedly fortunate to have that on the centre place.”
WATCH | Montreal’s Boucher leads Raptors previous Pistons:
Montreal’s Boucher leads Raptors to victory with ferocious dunks
Toronto beats Detroit 119-118 as Montreal native Chris Boucher shines with spectacular dunks.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored a team-high 33 factors for Detroit (15-43). Alec Burks and Hamidou Diallo added 21 and 18 factors, respectively, off the bench.
After the Raptors had their three-game successful streak snapped on Friday due to a Utah comeback, they held up late on Sunday to keep away from back-to-back losses.
Siakam scored six of the Raptors’ first eight factors within the remaining body to present Toronto a 92-78 edge 1:56 in.
But Detroit made a run as two Burks free throws with 33.1 seconds left made it a 116-110 recreation.
‘They carried the group’
A Barnes turnover led to a Jaden Ivey three-pointer to trim the Pistons’ deficit to a few with 10.1 remaining. After two VanVleet free throws made it 118-113 with seven seconds on the clock, Bogdanovic reduce it to a few once more with two free throws.
But Precious Achiuwa went 1-for-2 from the charity stripe afterwards to present the Raptors a four-point lead, good to maintain Toronto forward for the win regardless of one other Ivey three with 0.1 left.
“You had two championship gamers proper there that carried them house with Pascal and Freddie,” Pistons head coach Dwane Casey mentioned. “They have been the distinction within the recreation.
“They carried the group, they did a fantastic job. We tried to double group however Pascal did a fantastic job of going to work even earlier than the double group might get there.”
Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet reacts throughout his group’s 119-118 win over Detroit Pistons throughout first half NBA basketball motion in Toronto on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
VanVleet had the recent hand early, scoring 16 factors on 6-of-9 capturing within the opening quarter, together with two early three-pointers that fuelled the Raptors’ 8-2 run to take an 18-9 lead.
However, a late surge from the Pistons, led by Burks’ 11 first-quarter factors, helped Detroit shut the body solely down 31-29.
“Probably a mix of plenty of issues,” VanVleet mentioned of his efficiency. “Just staying locked in, preserve working, getting my legs beneath me, discovering methods to get the photographs.
“Being in a position to get three catch-and-shoots proper off the gate, I believe that helps lots. ΓǪ It’s not all the time going to go my means, however gotta take benefit once I get the possibility.”
Raptors’ Nurse out Sunday attributable to private causes
In the second, an Isaiah Stewart layup gave Detroit its first lead of the sport with 2:44 left. Siakam drew a foul on Bogdanovic with two seconds left and gave Toronto a 53-52 halftime lead.
Following an early trade of baskets and the lead, VanVleet hit a three-pointer and assisted on two different baskets in a 10-0 Raptors run that gave Toronto a 67-58 edge with 7:47 left within the third.
After the Pistons made it a four-point recreation, Chris Boucher bought a three-point play and one other VanVleet three-pointer restored the Raptors’ 10-point lead. Toronto closed the body up 84-77.
Raptors head coach Nick Nurse was out Sunday attributable to private causes. Toronto guard Gary Trent Jr. was additionally dominated out with a left calf pressure shortly earlier than tip-off. Forward O.G. Anunoby missed his eighth straight recreation with a left wrist sprain.
The Raptors host the Orlando Magic within the fourth of a five-game homestand Tuesday. The Magic lead the season collection 2-1 in opposition to Toronto, successful back-to-back outings on Dec. 9 and Dec. 11 in Orlando the final time the 2 met.
The Pistons play the second of a three-game street journey in opposition to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.
