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Improving Pistons host Raptors

Mar 10, 2012 - 3:39 PM (Sports Network) - The improving Detroit Pistons will aim for a season-high fourth straight home victory Saturday when they welcome Toronto to The Palace.

The Pistons improved to 2-0 on a three-game homestand Friday when Tayshaun Prince scored 17 points and hit the go-ahead shot in the lane with 24.3 seconds left in Detroit's 86-85 victory over Atlanta.

Greg Monroe tallied 20 points for the Pistons, who also received 19 points and 12 rebounds from Jason Maxiell. Rodney Stuckey contributed 11 points and Jonas Jerebko 10 for Detroit, which also shocked the Lakers in overtime on Tuesday.

"We're getting better and better as the season progresses," Jerebko said. "It's too bad we got off to that bad start to the season, but there's not a whole lot you can do about that right now. We just have to keep working hard and keep playing together."

The Pistons started the season a dismal 4-20 but have rebounded to go 10-6 since and are a solid 8-3 in Auburn Hills since the beginning of February.

Toronto is also coming in on a high note after DeMar DeRozan led six Raptors in double figures with 23 points as Toronto downed the Houston Rockets, 116-98, on Wednesday.

Jose Calderon had a double-double with 17 points and 12 assists, Linas Kleiza netted 19 points and Leandro Barbosa scored 15 for Toronto, which has alternated wins and losses over its past seven games.

The Raptors shot 59.2 percent from the field and nailed 6-of-12 attempts from beyond the arc.

"I'm feeling more comfortable now since the beginning of the season...and we're not losing the close games lately as we were earlier," DeRozan said.

DeRozan has started 121 straight games for Toronto which is third on the franchise's all-time list, just one behind Damon Stoudemire (122) and 10 back of Alvin Williams (131).

On the injury front for the Raptors, center Andrea Bargnani is scheduled to miss his 21st straight game against Detroit with a calf injury but coach Dwane Casey expects the former No. 1 overall pick to be back in the lineup when Toronto entertains Milwaukee on Sunday.

The Raptors napped a three-game skid to the Pistons with a 103-93 win north of the border on Feb. 22.