Final
Well-balanced Pistons top Raptors
Mar 11, 2012 - 5:38 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Six different Pistons scorers finished in double figures, led by Rodney Stuckey's 20 points, as Detroit cruised to a 105-86 blowout of the Raptors at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Saturday.Brandon Knight added 19 points and seven assists, while Jonas Jerebko and Jason Maxiell netted 13 and 12, respectively. Greg Monroe added 11 points and Tayshaun Prince chipped in 10 to give Detroit its season-high fourth straight home victory.
"Our team is stepping up and we just focus and we continue to get better," said Stuckey after the game. "One day at a time, one practice, one game, we keep getting better as individuals, now we just need to get some wins on the road."
The Raptors were led by DeMar DeRozan, who finished with 15 points. Andrea Bargnani returned for the first time since Jan. 25, scoring eight points and Jerryd Bayless and Gary Forbes scored 12 apiece as Toronto dropped to 6-14 on the road this season.
To make matters worse for Toronto, starting point guard Jose Calderon was helped off the court in the second quarter and did not return after rolling his right ankle when he stepped on the foot of Knight.
The Pistons jumped all over the Raptors early, as a 15-4 start found Detroit with a double digit lead less than five minutes into the game.
Knight connected on two threes, while Monroe and Prince netted four points apiece during the surge.
The Pistons scored 37 points in the first quarter, marking a season-high for points in a quarter, as they lead by 23 heading into the second stanza.
The lead touched 26 at its peak in the second and the Raptors never pulled within 20 throughout the frame, giving Detroit a comfortable 61-37 halftime advantage.
"They just outworked us," said Raptors forward James Johnson. "I don't know whatever they did but we came in and you might think that people are focused, but out there it looked like we were tired actually. We hadn't accomplished anything that we wanted to."
Detroit led by as many as 31 and no less than 19 in a second half that was more of a formality than anything else as the Pistons coasted to a double digit victory.
Game Notes
Detroit will play nine of its next 10 games on the road following Saturday's contest as it travels to Utah on Monday, while the Raptors will host Milwaukee on Sunday...The Pistons outscored Toronto 24-9 in fastbreak points.
- TORONTO: 86
DETROIT: 105
Final
Mar 10 10:52 PM - TORONTO: 58
DETROIT: 89
End of 3rd
Mar 10 10:22 PM - TORONTO: 14
DETROIT: 37
End of 1st
Mar 10 8:05 PM - TORONTO: 0
DETROIT: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Mar 10 7:42 PM
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